SACRAMENTO, July 18 (UPI) -- A 95-year-old California man has been honored with France's highest civilian award for his Army Air Force missions during Word War II, officials said.
George Caselli of Sacramento received the Chevalier medal of the French Legion of Honor Sunday from the French Consulate, The Sacramento Bee reported.
"It is true how the French feel about the U.S. involvement in that war," said Jane Wheaton, honorary consul of France for the San Francisco-based consulate general.
"They are forever grateful."
Around 10,000 people have received the honor for service to the French state, Wheaton said.
Caselli joins such American chevaliers of France as Julia Child, Walt Disney, prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison and jazz musician Miles Davis, event organizers said.
"He was never one who wanted to be in the spotlight," Caselli's son John said. "It's kind of ironic that he is being publicly awarded because he never really talks much about it. This is really special."
Caselli, in a wheelchair, was low-key about the honor.
"It's very nice," he said.
Caselli enlisted in 1941, became a bombardier and flew 34 missions, three of them over France, which is why French President Nicolas Sarkozy personally signed Caselli's award.
His World War II service also brought the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Purple Heart, the Bee reported.
