James Kirwen was a second-class petty officer in the U.S. Navy from November 1943 to September 1945.
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 Protestant services.
At one point, he shared a ship with Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
“Did you ever see him? Like in person, shake his hand or anything like that?” Kirwen was asked.
“Oh God, no,” he replied with a laugh.
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, Kirwen was thousands of miles away from the beaches of Normandy. Kirwen says that in his time, he was in active combat in Guinea, Okinawa and the Philippines.
Though he doesn’t recall hearing the news from Europe that day, history professor Barry Jackisch at the University of Toledo said the impact of the invasion reached across oceans.
“D-Day, even though it took place thousands of miles away from the Pacific Theater, was a huge morale boost for soldiers, Marines, sailors and the American public,” Jackisch said.
Kirwen finished his service in 1945. After the war, he returned home and helped run his family’s business, Kirwen’s Market in Fremont, eventually opening another location in Risingsun.
Decades later, Kirwen still carries pride in the path he chose and the role he played in shaping history.
“I’m very proud of what I did,” he said.
Kirwen and his wife, Suzanne, are getting ready to celebrate their 78th wedding anniversary on Monday. The couple has five children, 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.
