Paul O’Dell was insistent that he finish his story.
The 103-year-old World War II veteran, who had just received the Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction, was telling an audience last Tuesday afternoon, in the Laurens County Veterans Affairs Office conference room, about his visit post-war to France, and how one of his buddies could always attract the attention of the mademoiselles, and how two families wined and dined the young soldiers followng the liberation of France. And, it took a while.
So, Mr. Paul took a seat, and everyone considered the ceremony wrapped up, and on to a reception. Mr. Paul, however, asked for the microphone back. Then, this Gentleman Farmer, former county council member, and family patriarch continued.
The second family invited him and his buddy back for a follow-up visit, but this time the mood was somber. The head of household had run afoul of the Nazis for something he had written, and now he was on his death-bed. Did the young soldiers wish to pay their respects.
Of course, they did.
Then, as he finished his narrative, Mr. Paul’s voice grew steady as he said, plainly, with the highest ranking official from the Government of France’s Atlanta office standing to his right, this:
“There were thousands of civilians, not just soldiers, who laid down their lives for their country.”
And, he was done.
This soldier, this ordinary Laurens County man who went to war, and survived and thrived in civilian life, gave us all the ultimate lesson of the last time the entire world was embroiled in conflict.
The room was stunned, then they applauded, as an honor guard wheeled him out. Paul O’Dell had done what he came to do. He had delivered his message.
“The French people will never forget what he helped do to restore our freedom,” said Anne-Laure Desjonqueres, The Consul General of France in Atlanta, in her remarks before O’Dell spoke. She presented O’Dell with The Legion of Honor, which is awarded to both French citizens and foreign nationals who have served France or upheld its ideals. A statement says, “Recipients include those who have made exceptional contributions to France, as well as veterans like the Americans who risked their lives fighting on French soil during World War II. ... The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, designates recipients of the Legion of Honor.”
O’Dell’s “unit played a vital logistical role, supplying small arms and equipoment to Allied forces in prepartion for the D-Day invasion. Following Germany;s surrender in May, 1945, Sgt. O’Dell’s company moved into Paris, where he continued supporting local operations through the end of the year,” says a brief summary of the soldier’s service to his nation.
Paul O’Dell was born in the Hickory Tavern community, Laurens County, in 1922 and enlisted in the United States Army on Oct. 12, 1942. He spent 28 months overseas.
QUOTES
“This award, I accept it and appreciate it from the depths of my heart. There’s not words in my vocabulary to tell you how happy I am, how honored I am by receiving this award from the French people.” - Paul O’Dell
“You risked your life in the name of freedom to liberate my country. Thanks to you, thanks to your brothers in arms, democracy prevailed over barbarism. Today, we remember our two countries owe each other our very existence as free nations. France and the United States have always stood shoulder to shoulder to defend the values of freedom and democracy.” - The Consul General of France in Atlanta Anne-Laure Desjonqueres
“We are here to honor our father, Paul Odell; he is an impressive 103-year-old gentleman, but with you being here today, you are not only honoring him, you are participating in the fight for freedom, to fight the evils of World War II that he was involved in. America became one during that time ... that is why we were able to arise and defend freedom not only for the United States but for all the countries. I do want to commend the French government for recognizing many of these World War II veterans and Consul General Desjonqueres for being here today. It shows what great appreciation you and your government have in keeping the memory of these World War II veterans, The Greatest Generation, still alive.” - Craig O’Dell
“Paul O’Dell has been a fixture in the Hickory Tavern community my whole life. Paul, as Craig said, is a member of The Greatest Generation forged in the adversity of the Great Depression and hard times, and I think that Great Depression prepared them for what was to come, World War II. America called its sons to bear arms and that Greatest Generation rose to the occasion. They came to the aid of the European nations to help restore order from that chaos, and to restore liberty and freedom to the nations on the European continent. They fought. They bled. Many died, and they did not come home. ... I would like to thank the Consul General for the care, the respect, and the dignity that your nation offers to those who did not come home. Also, the ones that did come home. Mr. Paul, you and your fellow warriors came home. You re-entered civilian life. You raised families, and you built the greatest nation on earth, in my opinion, and in the history of mankind.” - Mike Pitts
The National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest decoration, was established by Napolean Bonaparte in 1802. The President of the French Republic designates the recipients of the Legion of Honor. American recipients include General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur, and Admiral Michael Mullen.
Legion of Honor Ceremony
Sergeant Paul O’Dell
January 27, 2026 at 3 :00 P.M.
County Council Chambers
Laurens, SC 29360
CONSUL GENERAL’S REMARKS
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Mr. Paul O’Dell,
My name is Anne-Laure Desjonquères, and I am the Consul General of France for the American Southeast.
Today, I am deeply honored to fulfill one of my utmost important duties: to pay tribute to a war hero who helped liberate my country and Europe from tyranny 82 years ago.
Before providing the full account of your accomplishments, dear Mr. O’Dell, I would like to thank your family and friends who are in attendance to show their support and admiration, and all those who have helped put on this ceremony.
The National Order of the Legion of Honor was created by Emperor Napoleon in 1802 to recognize individuals who have served France or the ideals it upholds. The medal is France’s most prestigious order and is bestowed on French citizens as well as foreign nationals, including veterans such as the Americans who risked their lives during World War II fighting on French soil.
Mr. O’Dell is one such veteran, as 8 decades ago, Mr. O’Dell risked his life in the name of freedom to liberate my country. Thanks to you and your brothers-in-arms, democracy prevailed over barbarism.
Today, we remember that our two countries owe each other their very existence as free nations. For more than two centuries, across the Atlantic, from one shore to the other, from one generation to the next, France and the United States have always stood shoulder to shoulder to defend the values of freedom and democracy.
Mr. O’Dell embodied this shared French-American history. He illustrated with his courage, the friendship, and shared values that so profoundly bind our two nations.
Mr. O’Dell was a true hero. His example gives us inspiration for the future and his legacy provides a moral compass for generations to come.
In recognition of his heroic actions and extraordinary accomplishments, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, nominated him to the Legion of Honor, with the rank of Knight.
The French people will never forget what he helped do to restore our freedom. And today, we also remember the ultimate sacrifice of so many of his comrades who rest on French soil. They will remain forever in our hearts.
Before officially bestowing his decoration, France’s highest honor, I would like to highlight Mr. O’Dell’s heroic deeds in France during World War II.
On October 12, 1942, Sgt. Paul O’Dell answered his nation’s call by enlisting in the United States Army. Initially stationed in England, he served in the 982nd Ordnance Depot Company of the 604th Ordnance Base Armament Maintenance Battalion as a stock record clerk and small arms repairer.
Sgt. O’Dell’s unit played a vital logistical role, supplying smalls arms and equipment to the Allied forces in preparation for June 6, 1944, also known as the D-Day invasion. Following Germany’s surrender in May 1945, Sgt. O’Dell’s company moved into Paris, where he continued supporting local operations through the end of the year.
Sgt. Paul O’Dell was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on December 24, 1945, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the rank of sergeant, fourth class.
Mr. O’Dell was awarded multiple decorations for his service, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
It is my honor to add the French Legion of Honor to Mr. O’Dell’s list of accolades in recognition of his bravery and sacrifice.
I will now bestow the decoration.
Au nom du Président de la République, nous remettons à Monsieur Paul O’Dell les insignes de Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur.
