Contact Information: CONTACT: Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Information Office Washington, DC (202) 337-4076 www.saudiembassy.net
Abdulaziz Medal Awarded to Mr. Joseph W. Grant
| Source: Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - January 28, 2009) - Today, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the
United States, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, presented the King Abdulaziz Medal
- First Class to Mr. Joseph W. Grant, a U.S. World War II pilot, on behalf
of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud at the Royal Embassy of Saudi
Arabia.
Joe Grant, 100 years old, is the pilot who in 1945 flew a Douglas-DC3
aircraft to Saudi Arabia to be delivered as a gift to King Abdulaziz from
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, following their historic meeting
onboard the U.S.S. Quincy on February 14, 1945. Subsequently, Captain Grant
served two years in the Kingdom as the first airline pilot to King
Abdulaziz, founder of the modern Saudi state. Captain Grant was also
instrumental in the establishment of Saudi Arabia's first national airline
and the training of its pilots.
"Mr. Grant's contributions to helping foster Saudi-U.S. relations are
deeply appreciated to this day," said Ambassador Al-Jubeir. "We are pleased
to honor such a longstanding friend and wish him happiness and continued
good health."
The King Abdulaziz Medal is awarded in recognition of significant
contributions made by an individual to the Kingdom.
This is distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC on behalf of the Royal
Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Additional information is available at the
Department of Justice, Washington, DC.