local
World War II veteran survives Hill Country floods with wife, dog and flag
By Patty Santos, Santiago Esparza at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· June 29, 2026
· 2 min read
A 99-year-old World War II veteran is retelling how he survived the Fourth of July floods. David Stearns went to the highest spot that he and his wife could reach. He used an American flag outside their home for cover. Stearns told KSAT that he was in bed when the storm hit. “I’m lying in bed, an...
Key takeaway “First I thought, ‘Oh, man, now I’ve got to clean the floors again,’ because I just thought it was a little water on the floor,” O’Connor said.
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About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A 99-year-old World War II veteran is retelling how he survived the Fourth of July floods. David Stearns went to the highest spot that he and his wife could reach. He used an American flag outside their home for cover. Stearns told KSAT that he was in bed when the storm hit. “I’m lying in bed, an...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Patty Santos, Santiago Esparza at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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