The Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James C. McConville, congratulates World War II veteran, Pfc. William Kellerman, who was awarded the Prisoner of War, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medal during a ceremony at Fort Hamilton, , June 28, 2022. Kellerman was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 315th Infantry Regiment when he landed on Utah Beach, Normandy nearly 78 years ago on June 11, 1944. Less than one month into his tour of duty, the company radio was damaged under heavy gunfire and Kellerman was sent to notify his battalion’s headquarters. While en route, he was captured and taken


The Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James C. McConville, congratulates World War II veteran, Pfc. William Kellerman, who was awarded the Prisoner of War, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star Medal during a ceremony at Fort Hamilton, , June 28, 2022. Kellerman was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 315th Infantry Regiment when he landed on Utah Beach, Normandy nearly 78 years ago on June 11, 1944. Less than one month into his tour of duty, the company radio was damaged under heavy gunfire and Kellerman was sent to notify his battalion’s headquarters. While en route, he was captured and taken prisoner by German soldiers on July 4, 1944. He later escaped and traveled over 600 miles before being found by the French Resistance, who hid him in the Freteval Forest until it was liberated by American forces in August 1944. He returned to his unit and in April 1945, Kellerman’s unit engaged in combat against the Armed Forces of Germany, and he was shot in the hand and leg by enemy small arms fire.


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Keywords: bronze, heart, prisoner, purple, star, war, wwii