MINNEAPOLIS— CBP officers in Minneapolis welcomed back a D-day veteran hero who was inducted into the French Legion of Honor by President Macron during the 75th D Day Anniversary for his service in WWII.
Mr. Willard LaCounte and his daughter returned from Paris on June 12, and CBP welcomed him back to the United States by making a public service announcement on the arriving aircraft and in the terminal to thank him for his service.
The port was contacted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Liaison Officer at U.S. Embassy in Paris, and requested port courtesy assistance for Mr. LaCounte.
The Minneapolis CBP management team met Mr. LaCounte and his daughter at the arrival gate. Due to an injury during his trip to France, wheelchair assistance was provided. Mr. LaCounte fell a week ago getting off a ferry from the United Kingdom and broke his hip. Despite having surgery on June 4, this true hero made it to the ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer, France on June 6, traveling by ambulance from the hospital in Cherbourg, France and sitting in the front row directly next to the podium. Mr. LaCounte landed in Normandy on June 7, 1944.
CBP escorted Mr. LaCounte and his daughter through the CBP inspection process, to the TSA security checkpoint for their connecting flight to Montana. Passengers showed their appreciation by clapping and thanking him for his service.