Mesa Celebrates Centennial Birthday of WWII Veteran James Peyton as Fellow Marine and Choctaw Nation Member Bill Logan Jr. Also Turns 100

This past weekend, Mesa community members came to celebrate a landmark event: the 100th birthday of World War II veteran James Peyton, a Marine Corps vet who served in Asia. According to ABC15, friends, neighbors, and fellow Marines joined to honor Peyton, who has stood proud as a patriot over his century-long life. "I've been to about 60 countries," Peyton shared, expressing the positive recognition of the United State overseas. "And they all recognize the United States. That makes you feel good."

Similarly, another centurion and World War II hero, William "Bill" Logan Jr., who was also a Marine, recently celebrated his 100th birthday as well. As a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Logan's service was part of a legacy of Native Americans in military history. During the war, Logan endured the harrowing Battle of Okinawa where he was wounded but went on to to outlive most of his unit. "The only thing we saw for two years riding ships from island to island were dead [Japanese soldiers] and dead Marines and dead Natives, and that's all we saw for two years. You think that won't run you crazy?" Logan recounted to AARP.

After the war, Peyton and Logan both returned home, carrying with them the experiences of a world conflict that forged modern history. Peyton, who claims pride in patriotism, was twice profiled by AARP last summer. Logan found work at the Bureau of Indian Affairs back in Oklahoma, contributing to the Choctaw community. "For the Choctaw and them old houses, you could just throw a cat through the wall," Logan said. "For one old man, when we had the final inspection on these nice brick houses, and when they gave this old guy his key to his house, he started crying. He said, 'I never did figure I’d ever have a house.' "

Throughout their lives, both men have epitomized a dedication to service. Logan's daughter, Sally Logan, penned a book titled "Stories of the War in the Pacific," a narrative of her father's life during the war, which he to shares with the local community. "I guess I’ve become famous because I went to World War II and got shot, but anybody could have done that," Logan told AARP. "I’m not no celebrity. I’m just a little country boy."