France honors local World War II veteran
By STACY WOLFORD
swolford@yourmvi.com
World War II veteran Frank Delia never talked about the horrors he faced after landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy two days after the historic June 6, 1944, invasion to liberate France from Nazi Germany.
Delia, now 102 years old, may have quietly tucked away those memories over the years, but his heroism hasn’t been forgotten.
On Saturday, the U.S. Army veteran received the French Legion of Honor medal, France’s highest distinction for American veterans who risked their lives to fight on French territory.
He was appointed to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor by Jean-Dominic Le Garrec, honorary consul of France for Pittsburgh, during the service at Country Care Manor in Fayette City, where Frank lives.
“Today, it’s my privilege to bestow this medal to Frank in the name of the president of France,” Le Garrec said.
A longtime Belle Vernon resident, Frank proudly wore his U.S. veteran ball cap and displayed his new medal as he enjoyed the sun on the crisp fall morning with his son and daughter, Gene Delia of North Belle Vernon and Linda Delia of Uniontown, by his side. They were joined by relatives, friends, local veterans, officials and Country Care Manor staff during the ceremony. The Fayette City American Legion Honor Guard conducted opening and closing ceremonies. Members of the Belle Vernon American Legion, Mon Valley Leathernecks and Mid Mon Valley Shipmates also attended to pay their respects to Delia.
“He knows this is something special for him,” said Gene.
It was the first time they were able to visit their dad at the nursing home in months due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“To finally get to see him, plus see him receive something so special, it’s such an honor,” said Linda.
Her father was nominated for the medal by Frank Steck of Perryopolis, a U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard veteran, who helps find veterans who qualify for the highest French merit for military service. Steck, a retired Veterans Administration Health System medical social worker, began the nomination process after seeing an announcement about Delia’s 102nd birthday in the Jan. 10, 2020, edition of the Mon Valley Independent.
A member of the 1st Army’s 17th Signal Operation Battalion, Frank received five Bronze Stars for his service during the war. The Bronze Star is the nation’s fourth-highest ranking medal and is awarded for heroic and meritorious deeds performed in battle. He also received several other medals for his war-time service.
Gene said his father’s Bronze Stars are lost and he is awaiting on replacements from U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler’s office.
To receive the French honor, Steck had to submit Frank’s name to the French Embassy, Normany officials and the French Honorary Consulate in Pittsburgh. A member of Veterans Back to Normandy, Steck works on sending World War II veterans back to France to participate in annual D-Day ceremonies.
Code-named Operation Overlord, the D-Day battle began on June 6, 1944, when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of the heavily fortified coast of France’s Normandy region. The Normandy landings have been called the beginning of the end of war in Europe.
During the 2019 commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, Steck said his organization sent 150 World War II veterans to France for an all-expenses-paid trip.
“Helping veterans over the years has been very rewarding,” Steck said. “And Mr. Delia deserves this award.”
Frank also received a certificate of appreciation from state Rep. Pat Stefano, R-Bullskin Township, who said he was proud to take part in the ceremony.
“I’m trying to think of all the great things I can say, but there’s not much I can say, because he’s done all the great work for us,” Stefano said.
Frank also received a certificate on behalf of the Fayette County commissioners.
During his presentation, Le Garrec said Delia also fought in the Northern France campaigns, the Rhineland campaign that was the Allies’ push to the Rhine River, and the Central Europe and Ardennes campaign, also known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Prior to landing in Normandy, he was in England.
He and his wife, Mary (Brizzi), both first-generation Italian immigrants, married in 1940. Mary died in 1997.
After he returned home from the war in 1945, he went to work for Donora Southern Railroad and eventually retired from Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel.
Gene said his father drove “well into his 90s,” was an avid walker and gardener, never smoked cigarettes and rarely drank alcohol.
Gene said he was “stunned” when Steck contacted him about the award.
“I have seen on TV and read so much about veterans and what it was like for them in Normandy, but my dad never really expanded on his experiences. We’d get little bits and pieces,” said Gene, who has an album of old photographs of his father’s military days.
Gene and Linda said they learned a lot about their father’s heroism and sacrifices during the nomination process leading up to Saturday’s ceremony.
“He never admitted to being a hero, but he is one,” Linda said. “He earned this.”