A World War II veteran celebrated his 100th birthday in Ohio on Thursday.
Ned Ammons of Genoa, Ohio, who served in the US Army during World War II, turned 100 on Thursday, WTOL reported.
Ammons graduated from high school in 1940 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, he reminded in a 2019 episode of Mail’s A generation forged by war podcast.
“When I graduated in 40, nothing was happening. I joined the three Cs… I went to Oregon where we did whitewater washes. In other words, we’ve made little dams in these streams going down.
In January 1943, he told the Mail he was finally drafted in January 1943.
While serving as a cook in the 254th Field Artillery Battalion, Ammons became known as a talented athlete, participating in both basketball and boxing, according to the Mail.
Ammons recalled on the podcast that he was asked to join the unit’s basketball team and was once persuaded by the commanding officer to delay his discharge so he wouldn’t miss games.
However, Ammons says interpersonal friction with another NCO led him to request a transfer, according to the Mail. During his time in the Army, he would serve at Fort Benning, Fort Laughton, Camp Livingston and Fort Louis.
In 2013, Toledo Blade reported that Ammons had participated in a World War II veterans honor flight in Washington, DC.
He was among those honored at a 2021 pinning ceremony in Genoa as part of the Veterans Recognition Program, the Fremont News Messenger noted.
OMCL reported in 2014 – the year of his 70th wedding anniversary – that he and his wife, Ruth, had three children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
“I have a good family. I’m very proud of them. They all are, there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for us and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them. In fact, they are very, very good at helping others,” he said.
The outlet noted that he and Ruth will celebrate their 79th birthdays on March 26.
