Binni awarded French Medal of Honor for WWII service
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POWHATAN POINT -- Sunday brought a long-awaited honor for a local man who was one of those who stood up to serve in World War II.
For his role in the Battle of the Bulge, the French government bestowed its Legion of Honor medal on Joseph Binni.
Binni, a Shadyside resident who celebrated his 100th birthday early this year, officially received the medal during a ceremony at the Powhatan Point American Legion, where he is a member. Binni, who also served as mayor of Powhatan Point in the 1950s and '60s, was surrounded by friends and family at the Legion headquarters.
Binni became emotional during the ceremony, when American Legion District 11 President Thom Stan officially pinned the medal on him.
The Legion of Honor is the highest national decoration in France and dates back to Napoleon Bonapart in 1802. There are five degrees. Binni was named a knight of the Legion of Honor, the only degree open to non-French citizens.
Binni learned about the medal about three years ago from reading a magazine from the Battle of the Bulge Association.
"This thing is from clear back in Napoleon's time. This is an award," Binni said.
Binni had made attempts to apply for the medal for several years, after he learned of the medal's existence and that he might qualify.
"I was given the information by people who were in the Battle of the Bulge," he said, adding that issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the process. He credits his granddaughter and caretater, Dana Biles, for securing the honor for him.
"If it weren't for her, I'd never have got it," Binni said. "She was a detective."
Binni said Biles contacted a liaison between Ohio Valley's World War II veterans and the French government.
"It was a year and a half before he got anything close to being done," Binni said.
About 10 months later the application was approved and the medal was on it's way.
Biles described the process of gathering her grandfather's documents about his tour of service for the application.
"You have to meet certain criteria," Biles said. "You can't just be in World War II and be granted this. ... You have to be on certain soil, a bunch of different things you have to have.
"We actually got a letter from the French Consulate," Biles said. "The French Consulate will actually come and pin you if you wish, or if you wish to have a small ceremony where friends and family can be present, then the French doesn't attend. ... He chose to have his family present, then everything that we do today is sent off to the French."
"It was a long haul," Binni said. "I appreciate everything."
Binni served from 1943-45. He was in the 264th Artillery Battalion. He received orders from forward positions and helped his battalion target howitzers.
"I was a communications chief. Took care of radio and wire in a battalion," he said.
Biles said she was happy for the chance to help Binni secure this honor.
"It's just a great honor," Biles said. "It's amazing. His biggest attribute is his big heart, for everybody and everything."
Binni's other honors include a Certificate of Honor from the District 11 American Legion and recognition of his 27 years of continuous membership in the American Legion, a Good Conduct medal, an American Campaign medal, World War II Victory medal and a European/African/Middle Eastern medal with four Bronze Stars.
Stan said Binni came from an era that valued service.
"The significance of his activities of course was he stood up and defended his country when everyone his age was doing that," Stan said. "Something that we really need people to stand up and do things that are right by the country. He was in northern France, the Battle of the Bulge, and he did all this as a volunteer. ... It's an honor for him and an honor for us as the American Legion to have somebody receive it.
"He stood up for this country when this country needed it. He stood up for the countries in Europe that needed him," Stan said.
He encourages veterans, their spouses, children and grandchildren to become involved in the American Legion.
"The American spirit is alive in the American Legion," he said.
Rick Smathers of the Powhatan Point American Legion said Binni is a valued longtime Legion member.
"It's definitely a great honor to have him as a member of the post, and it's definitely time we honored him for all the years that he's given to both his country and his community," Smathers said. "A lot of our World War II veterans aren't with us any longer, so it's just great that we're able to do this for him."