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M/CLOUDY Temp: 50 °F Wind: W at 9 mph Tuesday, April 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 27, 2003 World War II veteran Ed Wrona of Ashland is sending his Medal of Freedom to the French government because of that nation�s stand on the war in Iraq. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Ashland WWII veteran returns medal to the French ambassador By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Ed Wrona has appreciated the French for their culture and close ties to the United States for most of his 80 years. But Wrona’s long love affair with France is over. C’est fini. The Army veteran who landed on Omaha Beach at Normandy on June 30, 1944, during the allied invasion of France, is today returning a Medal of Freedom he received from French officials. "I’m upset with France because, in my opinion, if the world had stayed united, then Saddam would have given up and we wouldn’t have this war," he explained in an interview. "The United States is being looked at as the bad guy in all of this — it tears at my heart," he added. In a letter he is sending with the medal to French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., Wrona explained his concerns. "Today, I feel compelled to express my extreme disappointment that the leader of your country, Jacque Chirac, has indelibly tarnished this medal by the attitude and actions he has directed against America," Wrona wrote. "I’ve neither heard, nor read of any expression from him, on behalf of France, by way of gratitude for the sacrifices that Americans have made for France’s freedom or well being, nor in any way displaying some concern and understanding for America in this Iraqi crisis," he added. Wrona, who was given the medal during a ceremony in 1999 at the Caen Peace Museum, stressed that he isn’t a combat hero. Yet the veteran of the quartermaster corps was at Omaha Beach, the Battle of the Bulge and the Elbe River, where he was at times shot at, strafed and targeted by artillery and bombs. Last week, a D-Day veteran from Pennsylvania returned a medal he received for bravery from the French because of what he felt was cowardice by France in not joining in the war against Saddam Hussein. Wrona is not the first local resident to return a medal because of the war. But the two Bronze Star Medals mailed to President Bush in the past month by local residents were sent in protest of the war in Iraq. An Ashland resident who received the medal during the Vietnam War and a Medford resident awarded the medal during the Korean War both returned their medals to express disgust with the Bush administration. Wrona is quick to observe that he is not gung ho when it comes to war. He firmly believes there would not have been a war had the world been united against Saddam Hussein. "We all have to remain united and vigilant if we are going to defeat tyrants like Saddam," he said. "It seems like throughout the history of humankind, this has always occurred," he said. "When a tyrant appears on the scene, everybody tries to avoid getting in a conflict." As a result of appeasement, leaders like Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler are allowed to gather strength, making it more difficult later to stop them from abusing humanity, he said. "This medal to me has been a special, special thing," said the retired businessman. "But today it seems like the medal has been tarnished." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S