Robert Sales landed at Normandy in the first wave of the D-Day offensive and fought his way across France before he was wounded and left partially blind. Today, French President Francois Hollande will make Sales a knight of the Legion of Honor, a ceremonial thank-you for helping liberate France from Nazi occupation.

Sales, 91, of Madison Heights, Va., is among six World War II veterans chosen to receive the medal directly from the French president during Hollande's three-day visit to the United States. Hundreds of other Americans have been awarded the medal in the decade since France opened up eligibility to all living U.S. veterans who fought on French territory during any of four major campaigns.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 1.7 million of the more than 16 million Americans who fought in the war are still alive, spokesman Genevieve Billia said. She said the agency doesn't keep records of where they fought.

With D-Day's 70th anniversary approaching in June, Sales said he's delighted to be able to add the French medal to his decorations.

Another honoree, is 92-year-old George A. Shenkle of Lansdale, Pa.

Shenkle said he parachuted into France at 2 a.m. on D-Day. He says he did nothing heroic but his unit, the Army's 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, was cited for outstanding performance.

Former Air Force bombardier Arthur Ordel Jr. of Keswick, Va., said he'll be proud to wear the medal. Sixteen of his 35 bombing missions were to targets in France. The others receiving Legion of Honor are John C. Cheban, of Vienna, Va.; and Henry E. Ponton, Jr. and Charles S. Toms, both of Frederick, Md.