D-Day veteran awarded Legion of Honor medal at French embassy

Published On: Jun 06 2013 07:21:46 PM EDT

Sixty-nine years ago, Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944.

Each year, the French government honors those who risked or sacrificed their lives on D-Day. This year, a World War II veteran from Pittsburgh was among those being recognized.

"We were dumped off into water up to our necks because the beach was so heavily mined, the ships couldn't come in," Henry Parham told Channel 4 Action News. "Shots were falling all around us as we were trying to make it to the beach from the landing craft."

Parham, 91, received the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor medal, France's highest decoration.

"I don't know if I really feel like a hero, but I'm glad that I was able to come back because many didn't. We lost 15,000 on the beach that day," said Parham.

His wife went with him to receive the honor at the French embassy in Washington, D.C.

"She's so astonished and so proud of it because now she's part of it," said Parham.

Parham was drafted when he was 21 and served in the 320th Antiaircraft Artillery Balloon Barrage Battalion, an all-black, segregated unit.

"What could we do or say? The government itself was promoting that," said Parham.

But now the government of France is recognizing his sacrifice -- something he feels is lost on younger generations.

"They don't understand what we went through. They don't understand what we've done for them that caused them to be here today," said Parham.


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