By Paul Loeffler
In 1969, respected Fresno attorney John Loomis helped found the San Joaquin College of Law, hoping to create opportunities for aspiring lawyers in the San Joaquin Valley. More than 40 years later, the college has produced scores of the area's top attorneys. Many of them gathered nearby at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building on January 14 for a special ceremony lauding Loomis. The honor wasn't coming from the college or jurists appreciative of his impact, it was coming from the government of France.
Photo courtesy of Ronald D. Webb
For more photos from the ceremony, visit SJCL's Facebook page.
That medal makes a Loomis a Chevalier (knight) in the Legion of Honor. It's the highest civilian award issued by the French government, it traces its history back to Napoleon, and it's pinned on Loomis because of his service with the 95th Infantry Division, crucial to the liberation of the city of Metz in late 1944.
Loomis relates his experiences from World War II on the January 22, 2011 edition of Hometown Heroes. The story of how the Mauston, Wisconsin native ended up in California to begin with traces back to his time with the 95th Infantry Division, also known as the "Iron Men of Metz." Listen to the program to hear the close calls the 19-year-old experienced in Europe, and how an awful case of trench foot took him out of his mortar company and eventually to a hospital in Auburn, California. Without that turn of events, he might never have had the chance to visit Stanford University, where he would eventually earn his law degree. If he hadn't ended up at Stanford, he never would have encountered a lovely young lady from Fresno named Sue.
John and Sue have been married for 62 years now, and by now you've figured out that if she hadn't brought him home to Fresno, he wouldn't have been in the area to help San Joaquin College of Law get off the ground. Isn't it amazing how much can be traced back to a painful and torturous case of trench foot brought on by the brutal conditions of war? If you listen to the program, you'll also hear Loomis referring to one of the veterans he met while recuperation, who went on to write a book about his experiences. Resurrection, a War Journey by the late Robert E. "Robin" Guydasek details Gujdasek's experiences at Metz, and how he survived as a wounded prisoner. You'll find it on amazon.com or any major book website, and also from the publisher, Notre Dame Press, at the website linked above. If you know John Loomis, please thank him for serving our country. Enjoy the program, and if you're on facebook, click "Like" on the Hometown Heroes page to keep up with photos and extra information on the veterans appearing on the program.
Reprinted with permission by KMJNOW.com