Military service is a tradition in the Armour family.
On Friday, Marvin Armour, who served in the Navy during World War II, celebrated his 100th birthday with family, members of the community and other veterans at the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, where he was honored with cake and received several gifts including a T-shirt emblazoned with a photograph of the USS Salamonie, the ship he served on.
He didn’t talk about it until about 10 years ago,” said his son, David Armour, whose own military service included driving a fuel truck in the Army. “He was in the South Pacific in the Seventh Fleet. He was part of island hopping in the Philippines.”
Marvin Armour still remembers the size of the ship and when it was decommissioned in 1968.
David Armour said his father sent a letter to his parents during the war. He couldn’t tell them where he was at the time but said he would see his cousin. He had a cousin who was in the military serving with the nurse corps in the Philippines. She was one of the “Angels of Bataan” who were taken as Prisoners of War. The family knew where Marvin Armour was because of that reference.
David Armour said the family can trace its military service back to the Revolutionary War. After he retired, he did a DNA test, and it fueled his love of genealogy.
Family members served in numerous conflicts; he had a great-uncle who was killed in World War I.
David Armour’s son-in-law served in the Navy aboard the USS Enterprise. His grandson, who is also In the Navy, is scheduled to make a visit over the weekend to officially salute his great-grandfather, but he was unable to make it to Friday’s party.
Marvin Armour was recently honored at VFW Post 5899 in Washington, Ga., where the veteran is from.
He didn’t have any tips for longevity. He just said to take life one day at a time.
Marvin Armour’s daughter-in-law Christi said that he has always been a kind man who never smoked or drank, and she never heard him cuss. She was thrilled so many people came out to pay tribute to him and remarked that he was noticeably moved by the attention.
Marvin Armour turns 100 on June 30.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Great article about a great man!