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British vet bolts nursing home to join D-Day tribute

Michael Winter
USA TODAY
Bernard Jordan, an 89-year-old British navy veteran, at the nursing home in Hove holding a picture of himself when he was the town's mayor from 1995 to 1996.

Determined to honor his fallen D-Day comrades at Normandy, Royal Navy veteran Bernard Jordan went AWOL -- from his nursing home in southeastern England.

The 89-year old former mayor of Hove slipped out Thursday morning after staff at The Pines at Furse Hill told him they couldn't get him on an official tour at the last minute, according to news reports.

Undeterred, he quietly pinned his war medals to his jacket, donned a gray raincoat and set out for what the staff thought was his normal trip into town.

When he failed to return by nightfall, the nursing home called Sussex Police.

Jordan turned out to be quite safe and sound -- in Ouistreham, France, with friends. Another veteran reported that Jordan had hooked up with their group in Hove and traveled across the English Channel for the 70th-anniversary ceremonies.

"We have spoken to the veteran who called the home today and are satisfied that the pensioner is fine and that his friends are going to ensure he gets back to Hove safely over the next couple of days after the D-Day celebrations finish, a police spokesman said. "Once the pensioner is home, we will go and have a chat with him to check he is OK."

Jordan reportedly is on an overnight ferry back to Portsmouth, England, "and can't believe the fuss!", a BBC reporter tweeted Friday evening.

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