Iowa veteran awarded France’s highest honor

A one-hundred-four-year-old eastern Iowa man will receive France’s highest honor in a ceremony today. The French “Legion of Honor” will be given to Frank Proske of Blue Grass for his service in World War One. Jack Hackett of the Veterans Affairs office in Des Moines expects about 200 people to attend today’s one o’clock ceremony.Hackett says Proskee served in France for nine months.Proske, who at age 70 retired from farming, lives with his son, Walter, on a farm near Davenport.Ten other Iowans who are veterans of World War One have received the French “Legion of Honor” in the past two years. France sought out living World War One veterans for the honor to mark the 80th anniversary of the armistice which ended the war.