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Des Plaines WWII veteran to receive France's Legion of Honor

A World War II Army veteran from Des Plaines will receive France's Legion of Honor during a ceremony at city hall Friday.

Xenophon "Fonda" Doudalis will accept France's highest distinction from Guillaume Lacroix, the Consul General of France in Chicago.

Doudalis served with a unit in Gen. Patton's Third Army that helped liberate villages on their route through France. During the unit's initial liberation of the Dachau concentration camp in southern Germany, Xenophon personally took photographs of the area for assessments while he helped direct survivors out of the camp for rescue.

The public award ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at city hall, 1420 Miner St.

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