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U.S. 4th Fleet Commander Receives France's Highest Decoration

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS111030-03
10/30/2011

From U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) received the National Order of the Legion of Honor by decree of the President of the Republic of France Oct. 24.

Rear Adm. Kurt Tidd received the highest decoration in France from Rear Adm. Loïc Raffaëlli, commander, French Armed Forces Command in the Caribbean, during Raffaëlli's visit to COMUSNAVSO/C4F Headquarters.

"It is a great honor and pleasure for me to get this opportunity for this award ceremony honoring one outstanding officer of the United States Navy, comrade-in-arms, and advocate of a strong French-American friendship," said Raffaëlli.

Raffaëlli continued with the citation, detailing a brief history of the award and then of Tidd's military assignments, highlighting his commitment to U.S.-French military relationships.

"Admiral, it was reassuring to know that, whenever a problem arose in our bilateral relations, your personal involvement made it possible to overcome it," said Raffaëlli. "By paying tribute to you today, we are also honoring the U.S. Navy, with which we have forged so many common bonds and a long shared history."

"I recognize this award as an exceptionally high honor, and accept it on behalf of my shipmates on the USS Eisenhower Strike Group, USS Vicksburg and Carrier Air Wing 7," said Tidd. "They worked hard to facilitate the high degree of interaction between our navies. I look forward to strengthening our relationship with the French navy, which predates the creation of this decoration. Thank you [Raffaëlli] for travelling all this way and I look forward to working together with you as our two navies find new ways to deal the scourge of transnational organized crime which threatens the security of our two nations."

In May 1802, Napoleon Bonaparte created the Legion of Honor to honor the rich as well as the poor, civilian and military personnel, and all French citizens and foreigners who serve with honor. Since its creation, it has been France's highest order and one of the most coveted distinctions in the world.

"In recognition of your unfailing contribution to the enhancement of the cooperation and interoperability between our two navies, with the personal recommendation of Admiral Forissier, former CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) of the French Navy, the President of the French Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, has selected you as the recipient of the medal of 'Chevalier' in the Order of the Legion of Honor," according to the citation.

COMUSNAVSO/C4F supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.