WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday in Hudson

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John  Billinger is celebrating 100 years of life.  

The World War II veteran went through a lot in the war but came out unharmed. Some of his friends weren't so lucky.

"I'm proud of the United States and I love my country," Billinger said.

"I was on an assault boat, the mud and rain of France and Germany and the only thing that I ended up was a little nic for jumping off a tank," he added. "I lost a lot of buddies. They weren't as lucky as I was."

After the war, John came home and worked in a steel mill in Pennsylvania. He went from a laborer to the president of the company.

"You get a job, do it well. Do it very, very well," Billinger advised. 

His accomplishments were many. He was married to Gertrude Sifford for more than 70 years. He was honored by the local VFW for helping to get the organization started in his hometown.

"The VFW means an awful lot to me," he said.

Now, on his 100th birthday, family and friends celebrate an amazing, deeply loved man.

John lives at Atria Baypoint Village in Hudson.