World War 2 veteran Eric Edwards was told he would never have any children after being shot in the genitals in action.
92-year-old Mr Edwards was one of the heroes of D-Day who landed at Normandy in 1944.
He enlisted at just 18 years old and fought bravely until he was cornered by a German soldier and seriously injured from a gunshot.
While attacking the Germans, the brave soldier was shot four times. He told The Nottingham Post: “I got a bullet straight through the penis”. He also suffered shrapnel injuries from mortar shells.
Asked how it happened, he said: "I don’t know, but I’ve got a scar on each side. It went in one side and out the other. I’ve still got little bits of shrapnel in my body”.
Nottingham_Post : Ouch!https://t.co/76IHyV0vzE (via Twitter https://t.co/u08pwoIkHh) pic.twitter.com/WaVnbj41sL
— Nottingham Post (@NottinghamPost) September 23, 2017
Mr Edwards was captured by the Germans as a prisoner of war and remained at a war camp until the British liberated it.
After his rescue, army medics told him that he may never be able to have children because of the wound, and the fact that he had around ten large pieces of shrapnel in his body at the time.
However, the veteran proved them all wrong and went on to marry and have four children, two sons and twin daughters.
He is now a proud grandad to ten grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Mr Edwards spoke about his experiences after receiving a special medal and an appointment to the rank of Chevalier in the Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur, a prestigious French honour, established by Napoleon Bonaparte.
War veteran shot in the genitals told he couldn't have kids, but look at him now https://t.co/vISKNlfrr9 pic.twitter.com/YwXlhNvxsl
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) September 23, 2017
Daughter Wendy said: "I'm very very proud of him. I was chuffed when I found out about his medal, and it was quite a long time waiting for it, so when it came I was just so proud - there were a few tears!”
She added: “He always said to my mum that they wouldn't be able to have kids because of the injury, and Mum always joked that she only married him because she thought they weren't going to be able to have kids!"
