World War II vet celebrates 91st birthday | News | Berkeley Independent

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World War II vet celebrates 91st birthday

Published Tuesday, October 11, 2011 9:01 AM

By Dan Brown
Berkeley Independent

Dan Brown/Independent

George Dennis recently celebrated his 91st birthday with a breakfast celebration at Howard’s Restaurant.

Dan Brown/Independent

George Dennis, was served a special strawberry shortcake by Wanda at Howard’s Restaurant along with Manuel Cohen, daughter Carrie Dennis Budd and son-in-law Wayne Budd.

George Dennis is a living piece of history.

Iconic almost, one of the dwindling number of World War II veterans that need to be celebrated as much for their accomplishments and sacrifice as their longevity.

Dennis has seen a lot over his 91 years of living and when he celebrated his latest birthday, he considered himself blessed that he can still enjoy life’s simple things.

I get out and cut the grass,” he said. “It’s a riding lawn mower of course because I’ve got a bad knee.”

Dennis and some of his family and friends got together at Howard’s Restaurant on the occasion of his 91st birthday, on Sept. 24, and over breakfast he recounted some of his more memorable moments in his life and times.

Dennis was a tackle on the 1936 Berkeley Stags football team and played under legendary coach Jim Bradley, but never was able to complete his senior season.

After my junior year of high school I joined the Navy,” he said.

Dennis, a lifelong Berkeley County native joined the Navy on Dec. 19, 1940 nearly a full year before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

I fought in World War II against the Japanese,” said Dennis, who served on the USS Washington. “We were at sea at the time of Pearl Harbor.”

Dennis was assigned to the USS Washington where he served as “fire control on the number one turret, the crow’s nest and participated in all action through 1944,” according to the USS Washington Shipmates website.

Dennis cited as his most memorable experiences the sinking of the Japanese battleship Kirishima and the destroyer Ayanami.

We were never hit nor lost a man to the enemy,” Dennis said.

His ship participated in the bombardment of 10 enemy islands, repelled 53 air attacks and shot down 12 enemy aircraft, sank more combat tonnage than any other battleship in World War II earned 15 battle stars.

Before his discharge from the Navy in 1947, Dennis was awarded the Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars, the Asiatic-Pacific medal with 10 stars, the American Area Medal, the African European Medal with one star, the American Defense Medal, the WWII Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Dennis and his wife Ruth celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Sept. 8. They have three children, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

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