Jefferson City, MO -In a ceremony Friday in his Capitol office, Gov. Jay Nixon presented a mid-Missouri veteran of World War II with the Legion of Honor medal, the highest award bestowed by the French government for service to that country. John Sullivan, of Jefferson City, received the award for distinguishing himself during the liberation of France.

“The soldiers and airmen who fought in France and in the skies above saw many of their comrades fall, and they knew each day could be their last,” Gov. Nixon said. “But they pushed on, liberating millions of people across Western Europe from the yoke of Nazi tyranny. The memories of World War II are now 70 years distant. But we need to continue to pay honor to those who wore our nation’s uniform in that war, and in every war. All Missouri takes pride in the accomplishments of Mr. Sullivan and his fellow veterans, and I commend him on receiving this great honor from the people of France.”

Sullivan enlisted in the Army Air Corps in May 1942, less than a year after graduating from Jefferson City High School. Trained at the bombardier and navigation school, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the crew of a B-24 Liberator. Sullivan and the other members of his crew flew 35 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe without losing a single man, despite enduring flak and small arms fire from the enemy. Many of the comrades were shot down.

After returning to the United States, Sullivan continued to serve his country as an office in the Air Force Reserve before retiring as a major in 1965. For his heroism during the war, Sullivan had already been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.