Long Island Veteran Receives Medals More Than 70 Years After D-Day Invasion

HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- More than 70 years after the D-Day invasion that liberated Europe from the Nazis, a Long Island veteran has finally received the medals he earned.

After a lifetime of working as both a truck and school bus driver, WLNY's Richard Rose reports that Michael Guarnaccio can still recall the day 71 years ago when he came ashore the beaches of France to launch the invasion that toppled the Nazi grip on Europe.

"Everybody was dead in the water, let's put it this way," Guarnaccio paused. "And my best friends."

On Monday, those memories came flooding back for Guarnaccio and his wife as the honored guests of Congressman Steve Israel and fellow veterans of all generations at the VFW Hall in Hicksville.

"He came upon a German unit, they saw him and shot at him," Israel said.

Israel explained how the then 20-year-old infantryman tried to seek cover behind a dead cow, only to learn the Germans had booby-trapped it with explosives.

"The cow, the dead cow was detonated, it blew up and Michael was left unconscious with significant shrapnel," Israel said.

"I opened my eyes, and first thing I did was look to see if I had all my parts," Guarnaccio said.

Despite severe injuries that nearly killed him, Guarnaccio was somehow never awarded the Bronze star, Grymes reported.

"It gives me extraordinary pleasure and great pride to present you with all the medals you have earned," Israel said.

In all, Guarnaccio received eight service medals for his valor that day 71 years ago. His wife, Caroline, says they will be displayed proudly in their Hicksville home.

The couple has been married for 68 years, a romance that actually started during the war.

"We were writing to each other and when he came home he asked me out and the rest is history," Carolina Guarnaccio said.

A history symbolized by the medals that the couple say can now be admired by their two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.