Natchez — In April of this year, World War II Veteran Fielding Tucker received notice from Pierre Vimont Ambassador of France that he has been named “Chevalier” (Knight) of the Legion of Honor by the President Sarkozy of France.

The Légion d’honneur is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to acknowledge services rendered by persons of great merit. The Order is the highest decoration in France.

The Legion requires that the award be presented in ceremony by another knight of the Legion of Honor. The ceremony originally planned for Aug. 21 was scheduled in Atlanta at the French Consulate General’s Office.

Due to Fielding’s declining health with terminal cancer, son Ed Tucker petitioned the Ambassador of France to bestow the award “Chevalier” (knight) of the Legion of Honor immediately. The certificate and Legion of Honor medal arrived in late July, and was presented to Fielding by son Ed Tucker on Friday, the day before he re-entered the hospital for his final stay.

Surrounded by his family during the ceremony, Fielding was very excited and honored to receive the award. This was one his highest achievements, and he very grateful for the acknowledgement by the French government. Fielding died Tuesday, July 28.

The Legion of Honor Award was presented to Fielding for his participation in battles throughout many villages of France during World War II, and for his personal contribution to the liberation of France. Fielding has received numerous awards, citations and honor medals from France, but the Legion Of Honor award is the most coveted as it is the highest and most prestigious award in France.

Recipient of the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, Presidential Citation for the Battle-Of-The-Bulge and other decorations, Fielding was first stationed in Africa where he trained for the invasion of Italy. He then deployed to Italy where he participated in the liberation of Rome and numerous other battles before deploying to France where he participated in the D-Day invasion, Battle-Of-The Bulge, and battles throughout many villages of France.

During numerous returns to the Alsace region of France, Fielding rekindled friendships with WWII French veterans and relatives of veterans, and worked with them to dedicate monuments to American soldiers who lost their lives during the liberation of France.

“Conflict in The Ribbeauville Area” and “Promise Made-Promise Kept”, two of Fielding’s WWII memoirs are featured on the CNN sponsored website memoriesofwar.com. He provided his memoirs of WWII to HBO for use in connection with the Band of Brothers Living Memorial, and also provided WWII letters signed with his nickname “Snippy” for inclusion in “WWII Letters,” a book edited for Walter Cronkite.

Fielding had eight Children, Ed Tucker of Natchez, Diana Hinson and Becky Ferguson of Vidalia, Janie Reyes of Ferriday, Kathy D’Antoni, Tony Tucker and Mary Ann Eagle of Lake Charles, La. and Danny Tucker of Pollack, La.