The Carpetbaggers have been recognized with many prestigious awards and citations includng a Presidential Unit Citation by the United States for “extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy” and most recently the Congressional Gold Medal.

Chuckie’s Commander was Colonel Clifford Heflin, a decorated member of the Armed Forces, serving in the Air Force for 31 years. Commander Heflin was personally honored with several prestigious awards from the Amy Air Force and from General Charles DeGaulle’s Free French Forces.

At a ceremony in Paris on 7 Sep. 1945, Heflin received the French Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur (“National Order of the Legion of Honor”), France’s highest award, and the Croix de Guerre (“Cross of War”) from General Marie Pierre Joseph Francois Koenig, Charles DeGaulle’s head of the resistance, and later military governor of Paris.

The Croix de Guerre is awarded either as an individual award or as a unit award to those soldiers who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat with the enemy.

Due to the S E C R E T classification until 1984 of the Carpetbagger Project, some of the awards are still not yet included in official published lists of honorees.

Sources include Heflin’s personal papers and copies of brief articles in two French newspapers published 10 Sept. 1945.