HICKORY, N.C. — A local World War II veteran is celebrating a major milestone on a somber day.
On Tuesday, Catawba County native Charlie Johnson celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends in Hickory.
Johnson fought in Normandy and remembers turning 21 years old on D-Day.
During the Battle of Normandy, 73,000 Allied Forces were killed. Eleven-thousand aircraft and 7,000 ships were involved in the fight. Johnson, who was a corporal at the time, was aboard one of those ships.
He was awarded two bronze stars and several other medals for his service.
Johnson’s two brothers and brother-in-law also fought in World War II.
Johnson says he remembers D-Day and the friends who were killed in the battle as he tried to survive the invasion while serving his country.
“Airplanes flying everywhere … I’ll never forget my 21st birthday. I was so scared,” he told Channel 9′s Dave Faherty.
After the war, Johnson worked in the furniture industry until he was 84 years old before retiring.
Johnson’s daughter Cynthia says a bigger celebration is planned for this weekend at one of his favorite restaurants in Hickory.
(VIDEO: Community remembers Navy veteran killed on the way to work 5 years ago)
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