France Honors MN WWII Vet

A Minnesota World War II veteran was honored yesterday by the French government for his service in Western Europe, especially the Battle of the Bulge.  91 year old Jim Carroll of Bloomington entered the Army after the Pearl Harbor attack and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division.

He parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and two years later, fought in the famous Battle of the Bulge.  He spent 30 days in freezing weather in a foxhole surrounding by German soldiers.

Carroll moved to Minnesota after the war and retired in 1999 at the age of 75.  He has been active in the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel Foundation.

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and a French government official yesterday presented Carroll the Knight of the Legion of Honor Medal.

It was created by Napoleon in 1802 and is the highest honor that France can present to those who have achieved remarkable deeds for the country.