It was a very special birthday for one Maine man. James Mardin just turned 103 years old on Thursday.
The World War II veteran spends a lot of time at the Maine Military Museum in South Portland, where he is known with affection as the museum’s living artifact.
He entertains dozens of people with his stories about serving in Europe. And unlike many veterans, he isn’t shy about talking about the war.
Mardin joined the Maine National Guard in high school.
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After he graduated, Mardin was tasked with guarding the guns at Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth but quickly found that wasn’t for him and he wanted to go overseas.
“We didn’t do anything. That was it. I had to get out,” Mardin said. “I just had to get out. The war is going on over there, and I’m doing nothing here, so I applied. Took all the tests and passed them.”
Mardin said his secret to a long life is dark chocolate, staying lighthearted and, as he says, “roll with the blows” of life.