John F. Strong
John F. Strong is pictured on the left in this World War II-era photo. He was a gunner's mate, third class, aboard the USS Wilkes-Barre. Pictured with him is Harold U. Watkins, of Henderson, N.C.
This certificate shows John F. Strong was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in January 1947.
This letter, issued by the Harry S Truman White House, recognizes the contributions John F. Strong made during World War II.
Editor's Note: National Centenarian's Day is Sept. 22. The day honors those who've celebrated 100 birthdays or more. If that's you, happy birthday! We're publishing several profiles of people who have hit this milestone this month and in following months. The Alaska Commission on Aging is working with the Governor's Office, Pioneer Homes and Long Term Care Ombudsman to celebrate Alaska's centenarians.
See page 25 for another centenarian profile.
At 100 years old, John F. Strong has truly lived up to his surname. A World War II hero, builder, pilot, wildlife caretaker, and driver of the ALCAN Highway an astounding 59 times-with his last trip completed in his late 80s-"strong" might even be an understatement. He credits his long, healthy life to never drinking alcohol or smoking. There was that one cigarette at a poker game when he first joined the Navy, but that was only to prove a point to a bully, so perhaps that doesn't really count.
Strong grew up in Michigan with an alcoholic parent and had to take care of himself from a young age, hitchhiking to school as a child. In the spring of his 16th year, he arrived late to class one morning. "The teacher was hot about it," Strong recalled. She told him he was going to be reprimanded. His reply: "Don't worry about it, I'm leaving." And with that, he set out to start his life.
Not long after, he heard about a bowling alley looking for a pinsetter. The owner told him he was too young to work, but when couples began arriving to bowl with no pinsetter in sight, Strong jumped in-running between lanes, resetting pins, and keeping the games going. He did so well that he was hired despite his age. He rented a woman's garage, saved enough to buy a cot and sleeping bag, and lived there for nearly a year while working.
Approaching his 17th birthday, Strong visited recruiting offices for the Marines, Army, and Navy, playing "Goldilocks" in search of the right fit. Determined to meet the Navy's 5'2" minimum height requirement, he stretched himself as best he could and made it in once again despite being underage. He began in Aviation Ordnance, loading ammunition onto airplanes. Strong successfully hit targets during training that others could not reach. He served as a gunner and shot down over 40 planes in the war.
Small but mighty, Strong quickly earned a reputation for his physical agility, mental sharpness, and unwavering morals. He advanced through the ranks, known for his impeccable aim and his ability to think fast under extreme pressure. He saved the lives of many colleagues and civilians, survived multiple injuries, and independently shot down four Kamikaze planes. Strong served aboard the USS Savannah and the USS Wilkes-Barre, earning the American Area Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Ribbon-among other medals he is still waiting to receive, as verifying them decades later is no small task.
After his service, Strong trained in nearly everything he could including carpentry, plumbing, electrical systems, engineering, piloting and building. Eventually, one of Strong's construction workers told him about Alaska's great summers and fishing, inspiring him to make the move from Florida. At first, work was scarce here-his skills were so exceptional that they made others look bad and he was fired multiple times. However, once he proved himself to the manager of a large housing development project, his career took off. He went on to serve as a foreman on major projects across the state, including the Eklutna Power Plant, numerous schools, condominiums, and homes.
Strong settled on a property in Anchorage near the airstrip so he could work on planes in his yard and easily transport them to fly. He and his family cared for wildlife in the surrounding woods, befriending moose, rabbits, and other animals that spent their days visiting the Strong family.
"I've never cheated anybody out of anything," Strong said. "I taught a bunch of young people how to fly. I explained to these kids about not smoking and drinking. I taught them to enjoy life."
Yasmin Radbod is the Rural Outreach Coordinator at Alaska Commission on Aging.
