A decorated American hero receives the highest recognition given by France.
Captain William Overstreet was presented the Legion of Honor by French Ambassador Pierre Vimont Tuesday at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford.
Overstreet says he accepted the honor on behalf of the entire 357th Fighter Group.
As a pilot in World War II, Overstreet chased a German plane under the Eiffel Tower before shooting it down. Overstreet was shot down three times. In one of those instances, he was captured by the Germans and escaped.
Captain Overstreet and Ambassador Vimont laid a wreath by a statue given to the memorial by France. The captain himself selected the memorial as the location for the ceremony.
The ambassador expressed hope that Captain Overstreet would be able to return to France to see the country he helped liberate.
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