HONORED VETERAN — Wellsburg American Legion Post 34 recognized the post’s oldest member, 93-year-old Ray McLaughlin Sr., on Veterans Day. The Air Force veteran was recognized by Post Commander Edgile Covey. -- Contributed

WELLSBURG — Members of the Wellsburg American Legion Post 34 took time during its Veterans Day service on Tuesday to honor the post’s oldest member, 93-year-old Ray McLaughlin Sr. A lifelong Wellsburg resident, the Air Force veteran served at Okinawa during the Korean War. He was a loadmaster and dropmaster, preparing planes for flights on missions into the war-torn country. From 1952-56, he loaded equipment and materials dropped from the air to awaiting troops.

McLaughlin said he enlisted at age 19, following in the footsteps of his older brothers who were 11 and 10 years older, serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II, a forerunner of the Air Force. He noted he served in the Philippine Islands for six months and visited Hong Kong and Guam during his time in the service. After he returned to the U.S., he worked for 30 years at Weirton Steel in its annealing operation. He then worked eight years at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel and 15 years selling equipment to steel and aluminum mills before retiring at the age of 75.

He and his wife of 68 years, the late Mary Kay Hoffman McLaughlin, had two children, Ray Jr. and Mary Kay Pepe. Asked about his experience in the military, McLaughlin said, “I loved the Air Force. I had a good job.”

He said if not for missing his family, he might have signed up for more time. He said he made friends from Michigan and Kentucky whom he visited after returning home.

“They are all gone now,” he said. McLaughlin said it’s important to remember Veterans Day and honor the nation’s many veterans, especially those who lost their lives or were injured.

“The ones who returned with horrible wounds. I was lucky enough not to experience any of that,” he concluded. McLaughlin said it is for this reason that he likes to support such causes as the Wounded Warrior Project.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)