A local veteran is being honored by another country for his actions 68 years ago

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette veteran will be honored Friday for his courage 68 years ago.

Bill Foster served in the U.S Army during the second World War. A Purple Heart, Good Conduct, and a World War two Victory medal are a few hanging in his living room. Soon, a French Knights of the Legion of Honor medal will join the collection. He will be honored by France for helping them decades ago.

"We all went in there to serve for our country. Quite a few people didn't believe in doing that but I feel like if hadn't of been for kids like me, I don't what we would have been speaking. English, German, I don't know what we would have been doing," said Foster.

Immediately following D-Day in 1944, Foster said he was shipped to Africa. On June 10, 1944, he and his men were sent to Normandy to replace the soldiers who had already been killed during the D-Day invasion. That was where he was seriously injured.

"They had Germans jump up and run and us dummies chased em. I got about half way through the field  and a sniper hit me in the neck," said Foster.

Foster was sent to England for 3 months of rehab for his shoulder and arm. He then moved to Paris to Belgium and finally got to come home in 1945. His wife of 61 years, Dean, said Foster not only deserves to be recognized for his actions on the battle field but for his actions as a person.

"We're very proud of him. He's been a good husband, a good father. And most of all, he's good to everybody that we come into contact with," said Dean Foster.

After the war, Foster continued to work as a carpenter for 70 years. He will celebrate his 91st birthday on June 20.

Foster and seven family members will make the trip to Chicago Friday for the Legion of Honor ceremony. He said even though it's an honor to be awarded by the French Consulate, he thinks his family is more excited than he is.