Thursday, April 27, 2017
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined Brian Willette, Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Western Mass Chapter # 875, Eric Segundo, Vice Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and James Woolsey, Superintendent of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, for a ceremony to honor Springfield’s 104th Infantry, the first U.S. military regiment ever honored by a foreign power for bravery in war. This ceremony marked the beginning of events to commemorate the Centennial Celebration of World War I.
The 104th Infantry was honored by the Nation of France with the Croix de Guerre award for their valor during battle against German forces on April 10, 12, and 13 of 1918 in Bois Brûlé, near Apremont, France. The Croix de Guerre is awarded as an individual or unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy. The 104th Infantry later fought under General George Patton During the battle of the Bulge during World War II.
