Counasse, Emile R.

Date of birth:: February 28th, 1919 (France)
Date of death:: September 13th, 1988 (Pennsylvania, United States)
Nationality:: American

Biography

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Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: 2nd Lieutenant
Unit:: Special Operations, Office of Strategic Services (OSS), U.S. Government
Awarded on:: May 6th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Jedburgh

"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the Office of Strategic Services, in action from 28 May 1944 to 6 September 1944. Second Lieutenant Counasse was parachuted into France in civilian clothes to act as radio operator for a secret agent who was organizing and arming resistance forces. Although the area in which he worked was strongly held by German occupation forces, making radio work particularly hazardous, he successfully transmitted operational information to England and received orders. The work performed by his enabled the organizer to build up a strong resistance network, and, after D-Day, to coordinate resistance activities throughout the department with the activities of the allied armies in their liberation of France."

Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 82