RISINGSUN, Ohio — At 99 years old, James Kirwen of Risingsun still remembers the mile-long walk he took on his 18th birthday.

"I walked about one mile down to the recruiter's car to get in and go to the Navy," Kirwen said.

It was Nov. 11, 1943, Veterans Day, and he was ready to serve.

Kirwen served in the U.S. Navy during World War II from November 1943 to September 1945 in the fight against the Japanese in the Pacific theater as a second-class petty officer.

He chose the Navy over the Army for one simple reason.

“I didn’t want to be in the dirt,” he said.

He served aboard several ships in the Pacific theater, including the USS Catoctin, Mizar, Mount Olympus and General John Pope. His duties included working as a radio operator and directing a choir during both Catholic Mass and Prot

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