William Willie Kellerman News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

the tsa screening nearly 2.5 million people on friday. and today expected to be the busiest of this record weekend. what's being done to keep the airlines flying. the wildfire danger in the west. red flag warnings in several states. authorities restricting or banning fireworks in some areas. and tracking severe storms across the midwest through july 4th. rob marciano timing it out. news tonight about a lifeguard bitten by a shark off long island, new york. the incident happening during a training exercise. the beach temporarily closed. more lifeguards now patrolling the water. ...

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 he...

"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 kell...

World War II veteran William "Willie" Kellerman is finally getting medals he earned during WWII.