After years of trying to receive his medals, a 97-year-old Bronx native and World War II veteran was honored Tuesday at Fort Hamilton.

William Kellerman spoke with News 12 about how great it was to be recognized for his accomplishments. He was fighting in Europe when he was 19 years old.

“When I was in Normandy, we went to visit the cemetery and 8,000 guys were buried,” said Kellerman. “I knew a few of them but they’re the ones who should really be honored. I’ll just be the spokesperson for them.”

Kellerman's daughter, Jeanie, and his granddaughter, Nicole, were instrumental in making today's recognition happen.

“He always thought his story wasn’t different,” said Nicole. “He thought everybody had a story like his, that’s why he thought he wasn’t getting these awards.”

Kellerman was captured by German soldiers just one month into his deployment – and he escaped on foot one night. He then traveled 600 miles via bike and arrived at the headquarters of the French resistance where he was interrogated to prove he was an American soldier. His way of proving his American roots? Naming the 1943 World Series champion, the New York Yankees.

Officials from the U.S. Army say that after Kellerman’s active service ended, the medals he was set to receive were never processed. Decades later, the mistake has been corrected. He received the Purple Heart, Prisoner of War, and a Bronze Star medal.