World War ll veteran turns 96 on Memorial Day in Tuscaloosa

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – Memorial Day in Tuscaloosa turned out to be more than a day of remembrance for one veteran. James Hixon was publicly recognized for a special honor during a Memorial Day ceremony.

Hixon turned 96 years old Monday and he’s got a story to tell. It begins in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.

“I served in World War ll on a minesweeper,” says Hixon.

On a minesweeper in the South Pacific, Hixon did his courageous part to make way for the Marines to combat the islands in the same region.

“To get the Japanese that were left on there and there was on island, a huge island…kind of like Pearl Harbor for Japan,” Hixon said.

Hixon was recognized, along with a few more veterans on Memorial Day in Tuscaloosa. These are the people who put it all on the line for freedom. Many came home and so many did not.

“I represent a lot of men who didn’t get to come home from World War ll,” Hixon says.

″From these honored guests with increased devotions for that cause for which they gave their last full measure for that cause,” says U.S. Air Force retired colonel Duane Lamb.

Retired military Green Beret Stephen Kaye was the guest speaker.

“The flag stands for freedom. Our flag stands for liberty and we as veterans understand that,” says LTC Kaye.

“Our ship cleared 37 mines from those islands,” Hixon said proudly.

And today Hixon celebrated his 96th birthday.

“It means an awful lot to me and I did not expect all of this. I appreciate everybody coming to me…makes me feel good,” says Hixon.

Feeling good at 96…feeling even better America is still free because of veterans like Hixon.

Veteran Hixon is proud of his service, especially his group getting a letter from President Franklin Roosevelt during the war, applauding them for a job well done in sweeping those mines.

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