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As a soldier in World War II, William “Willie” Kellerman was captured three weeks after he took part in the Utah Beach invasion in Normandy. He managed to escape his German captors, hid out with members of the French Resistance and, in a grand stroke of survival, pulled through after being shot in his hand and leg.
finally tonight, america strong. an honor nearly 80 years, long overdue. >> reporter: precious medals, 77 years in the making. >> it's a purple heart. >> reporter: for world war ii veteran 97-year-old william "willie" kellerman. >> i remember every second of it. it's something you never forget. >> reporter: at just 19 years old, after storming the beaches of normandy, kellerman was captured by the germans on july 4th, 1944. >> a german tank, and he aimed it right at me. i said, "i surrender." i figured this is the end of me. >> reporter: but he would later escape by throwing himself under a hedge, hiding from german soldiers. >> i laid there until they got out of sight, and i picked up and i ran like hell. >> reporter: traveling nearly 600 miles, encountering the french resistance. kellerman forced to prove he was american by answering one question --
"who won the 1943 world series?" >> i knew that the yankees won. >> reporter: kellerman later going back into battle, getting shot in the hand and leg. years later, his family wondering why he never got the recognition he deserved. his youngest daughter jean discovering an administrative oversight, and a fire that destroyed most of his army records. >> i thought, i have to get him these medals. he deserves this. >> reporter: it would take five years of hard work, with both the u.s. army and the french, to put the pieces together, culminating in this moment. after 77 years this week willie kellerman receiving the purple heart, prisoner of war, and bronze star medals. >> it's like i've been living in the dark all my life and all of the sudden all the lights went on. >> reporter: and on this 4th of july weekend grateful to a nation he served. >> god bless america. >> that smile says it all. an american hero. thanks so much for watching. i'm whit johnson in new york. i'll see you on "gma" in the morning. have a happy and safe fourth of
June 28, 2022 | 101.3 KFDI kfdi.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kfdi.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.