A Century and Then Some: Belpre World War II veteran celebrates 106th birthday

Belpre resident Roy Sees blows out candles at his 106th birthday party Thursday evening. Sees served in World War II as an infantryman in the Army. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

MARIETTA — A crowd gathered at the Ronnie W. Davis Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5108 in Marietta Thursday evening to celebrate the upcoming 106th birthday of Belpre resident and World War II veteran Roy Sees.

Sees’ party was held Thursday and his 106th birthday is today. He was born Nov. 15, 1918, in Parkersburg and grew up in the Mid-Ohio Valley and elsewhere. He spent about 35 years in Tucson, Ariz., and has lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio too.

Sees volunteered for service in the U.S. Army in World War II with plans to be a pilot, but instead ended up an infantryman in the 66th Division and then the 100th Division. As part of the 100th Division he fought in several battles in France and Germany during World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge.

He received several medals for his service, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze star campaigns, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation and the Knight of the Legion of Honor Medal by France, according to a Washington County Commission resolution thanking Sees for his military service.

Sees worked for years as an electrician and ended his career as a plans examiner for the city of Tucson. He has also had a life-long interest in flying and has been married twice, to Thelma and Iren, who have both passed away. Sees has three children, Mike, Sherry, who is deceased, and Kimberly.

Roy Sees, left, from Belpre, talks about how he reached 106 as Ronnie W. Davis Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5108 Commander Gene Venham, right, listens. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

On Thursday night, Mike Sees escorted his father into the VFW post to a standing ovation.

The birthday celebration was filled with well wishes and congratulations for Sees on reaching 106. Food was provided by the VFW post for the party.

Attendees sang Sees happy birthday and he blew the candles out on a cake with white icing, and an American flag, red, white and blue sprinkles and even a few Lego little green Army men.

After he blew out his candles Sees shared his birthday wish.

“I hope you all live to 106,” he said. “Then you’ll know how I feel.”

Belpre resident Roy Sees, seated right, listens as a crowd sings him happy birthday during a party for his 106th birthday Thursday evening. His birthday is today. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

This elicited laughter from the attendees.

Sees received several proclamations thanking him for his military service and congratulating him on turning 106 from representatives of U.S. Senator JD Vance, the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber, the city of Marietta and Washington County.

Washington County Commissioner James Booth presented Sees proclamations from U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Sees is not as active as he used to be, according to him. He said up until recently he has been mowing the grass and taking care of some of the flowers in his yard but he doesn’t think he should be doing that anymore.

Sees spends time with his family, saying his daughter takes good care of him and he talks to his son every week.

A banner wishes Belpre resident and World War II veteran Roy Sees a happy 106th birthday Thursday evening. His actual birthday is today. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

Kimberly Sees came to the party with her dad and she said it was “wonderful.”

She thanked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the party. She said they had called her and her brother and let them know they were going to throw their dad a party.

Mike Sees agreed, saying the party was “amazing.”

“We never really expected this,” he said.

During the party, Ronnie W. Davis Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5108 Commander Gene Venham asked Sees how he made it to 106.

Balloons spell out the age of Belpre resident Roy Sees, during a party for his 106th birthday Thursday evening. He was born Nov. 15, 1918. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“How should I know?” Sees joked.

Then Sees shared his thoughts on why he has lived to 106.

It is “due to military service and living a pretty clean life,” he said.

He said he saw a doctor once that told him he would live to 100. He said the doctor asked him if he knew why he would live that long and the doctor said “your attitude.”

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com