SANDUSKY – Six northern Ohio veterans who helped liberate France during World War II are being
awarded that country’s Medal of Knight of the Legion of Honor in a 1 p.m. ceremony today in Veterans Hall of
the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky.The medals will be presented by Honorary Consul of France Stephen Knerly
Jr., assisted by Ohio Department of Veterans Services Director Tim Gorrell.Being honored are:• Charles
Malachosky, 92, of Cuyahoga Falls, who entered the Armed Forces in 1942 and served as a technician 5th grade
in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 2nd Armored Division. He served overseas from February
1944 until April 1946, and participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes,
Rhineland, and Central Europe. Malachosky is a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater
Ribbon with five battle stars, among other awards.• Richard R. Robb, 95, of the Ohio Veterans Home –
Sandusky.He entered the Armed Forces in 1941 and served as a technician 5th grade in the Headquarters and
Headquarters Company of the 27th Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division. He served overseas from January
1944 until October 1944, and was wounded by shrapnel in Normandy in August 1944. He participated in the
campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Robb is a recipient of
the Purple Heart Medal, and the Distinguished Unit Citation, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater
(EAMET) Ribbon with five battle stars.• John W. Stauffer, 91, of the Ohio Veterans Home – Sandusky.Stauffer
entered the Armed Forces in 1942 and served as a private first class in Company E, 331st Infantry Regiment,
83rd Infantry Division. He served on the European mainland from June 1944 until November 1945, and was
wounded in Normandy in August 1944. He participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, the
Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Stauffer is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart,
the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with five battle stars, as well as the Jubilee of Liberty
Medal from the government of Normandy.• John J. Turk, 89, of Novelty, who entered the Armed Forces in 1943
and served as a technician fifth grade with the 67th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion. He served on the European
mainland from February 1944 until December 1945, and participated in the campaigns of Rome-Arno, Southern
France, Rhineland, and Central Europe. Turk is a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater
Ribbon with four battle stars.• John Weske, of Sandusky, who died earlier this year.Weske entered the Armed
Forces in 1943 and served as a technical sergeant in the 175th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division. He
served in Europe from June 1944 until December 1945, landing in Normandy at Omaha Beach. He participated in
the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Southern France, and Rhineland. Among his medals are the Bronze
Star and the EAMET Ribbon.• Robert E. Zonneville, 88, of Mentor.He entered the Armed Forces in 1943 and
served as a staff sergeant in Company H, 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division. He served overseas
from December 1943 until July 1945, and was wounded at St. Lo in July 1944 and wounded again in Northern
France in September 1944. He participated in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, and
Central Europe. Zonneville is a recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,
the EAMET Ribbon with four battle stars, and three Overseas Service Bars.