Imagine taking over the controls of a plane that has been hit by enemy fire when you don’t know how to fly.

That’s exactly what a Citrus County man did decades ago. And he lived to talk about it.

As Harrison Miller holds a model of a plane he flew in during World War II, his thoughts drift back to Jan. 31, 1944. On that day, the young aviation radioman did something truly amazing.

Miller was in the back of an observation plane over the Pacific when the plane was shot. His pilot shouted out orders.

"He says, 'I’ve been hit, I'm shot, jump, I can't land,' " Miller recalled. "I told him, 'never mind; I would try to land.' ”

Miller, who didn't know how to fly, took the controls instead of ditching the plane and his pilot. He was able to crash-land the plane into the ocean.

“We got down in one piece," Miller said. "Maybe three pieces.”

Unfortunately, the pilot didn’t make it.

Miller was rescued after six hours in the water. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroics that day.

Then, just a few days ago, 68 years later, he received another medal: the Air Medal, honoring him for that brave mission and many others.

"It feels real good," Miller said.

Miller earned his Air Medal 68 years ago, but the paperwork got misplaced and the years passed.  Now the medal is his, and he said he said he's proud.

Miller has been awarded a number of other medals for his service during the war. He will turn 95 later this month.