Felicitations, Clayton Chalfant!

Clayton Chalfant has done a lot in his 100 years of life.

The Westport native joined the Army in January, 1943, and headed to basic training at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He was just 18.

Heavy machine gunner Clayton Chalfant.

Assigned to an anti-aircraft Battalion, his unit landed on Omaha Beach less than 3 weeks after D-Day. A heavy machine gunner on a half-track mobile unit, he helped liberate several towns in northern France — including St. Lô, the “capital of ruins.”

Chalfant then served in battle campaigns in Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe — including the infamous Battle of the Bulge.

After the war he helped establish Westport’s sister city relationship with Marigny, a Normandy town he had traveled through. The association continues today, nearly 80 years later.

Chalfant and Mary, his wife of 76 years, have lived together in Westport all that time. They have 5 children, 10 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

But until yesterday, Clayton Chalfant had not been a Knight in the National Order of France’s Legion of Honor.

That recognition was bestowed, in an emotional ceremony. A large crowd — including officials from Westport and France, and Chalfant’s family from across the US — gathered, for the presentation by the New York consul general of France.

1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker called Chalfant “a soldier, and a gentleman.” She asked attendees to reflect on two things: “what true sacrifice is all about,” and the long friendship between the United States and France.

After the presentation of colors, and rousing renditions of “La Marseillaise” and “The Start-Spangled Banner,” Consul General Cedric Fouriscot spoke.

“You fought thousands of miles away from your country, to help liberate ours,” he told Chalfant.

“You are a leading symbol of the alliance between France and America. It goes back more than 250 years, to our support of the Revolutionary War.”

French Consul General Cedric Fouriscot, thanking Clayton Chalfant. 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker looks on.

As the consul general pinned the medal on Chalfant, the crowd rose in a standing ovation.

The honoree then stepped to the podium.

Clayton Chalfant: Knight in the National Order of France’s Legion of Honor.

In a firm voice he said, “I was just one little American, among so many great men.” He acknowledged the sacrifice of so many, and thanked the French officials who had traveled to Westport for the ceremony.

One — Lieutenant Colonel Patrick du Tertre of the French Airborne — made an emotional, impromptu speech.

He described his tears when he learned that President Kennedy had been killed.

He had grown up idolizing Americans, he said. They were the ones who liberated his grandfather, a leader of the French Resistance who was tortured by Nazis.

It was Americans too who gave his father — a sheep farmer — the gift of a tractor.

Today, du Tertre said, the US is still part of his life. He lives in Bethel, with his American wife and 2 “Franco-American” children.

Chalfant’s daughter Kate Carroll noted that her father accepted the French honor “on behalf of every soldier he fought alongside.”

His grandson Jonathan Van Sant concluded with a reading of the poem “It is the Soldier,” by Charles Province, that has become a Westport Memorial Day tradition.

In 2004, Clayton Chalfant was grand marshal of that parade.

Two decades later, he earned another honor, from another nation.

“06880” proudly joins our French friends in saying: “Thank you for your service.”

(To read more about Clayton Chalfant’s life, click here.)

Clayton Chalfant, his great-granddaughter Cecilia and daughter Kate Carroll. 

French war veterans at Town Hall (from left): Patrick du Tertre, Alain Dupuis, Henri du Valle. (All photos/Dan Woog)