Metro Detroit D-Day veteran recalls sacrifice, discrimination during WWII

(WXYZ) — William Micou was just 18 years old when he was drafted to fight in World War II. As a young man, he fought on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day.

Now, 75 years later, Micou said it's often painful to think about the war due to the widespread discrimination African-American soldiers like him faced on a daily basis.

“They said we had tails like a monkey," the 94-year-old veteran told 7 Action News of how some of his white, fellow servicemen treated him.

And that discrimination continued even after the war.

“He came home and he didn’t get the same level of appreciation," said Herbert Micou, his son.

Micou served as an Army Technician in Europe.

"He was working in what they called the Red Ball Express," Herbert said. "And that was a group General Patton commissioned to take supplies and so forth to the front line.”

Micou also transported wounded or dead soldiers from the front line.

Earlier this week, Herbert posted on social media about his dad's service. Now, William Micou is getting a chance to share a side of D-Day many of us haven't heard.

“I thank all the people who are responding to say, 'hey, Mr. Micou, thank you for your service.'”

Following the war, Micou moved to metro Detroit in the late 1940s. He worked at the Ford Motor Company for 30 years.