Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Service Cross

    Service:

    Foreign

    Rank:

    Sous-Lieutenant

    Division:

    Office of Strategic Services

    Action Date:

    February 8 – August 26, 1944

    Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 47 (March 30, 1945)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sous-Lieutenant Georges A. Lassalle, Army of France, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, while serving with the Office of Strategic Services, in action against enemy forces in enemy-occupied France, from 8 February 1944 to 26 August 1944. Sous-Lieutenant Lassalle was parachuted into France in civilian clothes as a radio operator for the original Pathfinder mission in which he was sent to prepare the way for the “Sussex” teams. He had to keep in constant communication with London by radio in order to give the addresses of houses, coordinates of fields, and to receive orders. He maintained contact although the Gestapo systematically hunted him, and, during the early stages, he was obliged to change his place of transmission almost daily He was captured by the Gestapo in August, and, although severely tortured, he revealed nothing. He escaped the death penalty because of the arrival of the allies in Paris. Sous-Lieutenant Lassalle’s outstanding accomplishments, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the Allied Nations.