U.S. Navy veteran Bill George
On a recent afternoon, his lawnmower ran out of gas while cutting the grass and he had to admonish his 77-year-old son for not filling the tank. Later this week, he will be two-stepping and polka-ing with his “lady friend” — 13 years his junior — at the $5 Accordion Dance Club. In August, the Billings resident will celebrate becoming a great-grandfather.
Oh, and in July, former Navy man Bill George will turn 101.
The key to his longevity and zest for life? “Not smoking, drinking socially and, of course, my biggest thing for living a long life is thinking positively. If you think positive and make up your mind you want to do something, you can do it.”
And do it he has. On his own terms.
A year after he ran away from his home in Mossmain, Montana, WWII was going on and he decided he wanted to join the Navy. He was 17, which meant he had a choice as to which branch he would prefer. But if he waited until he turned 18, he was required to register for the draft and he knew at that point, he would have to serve in the Marines.
“Because I was underage, I needed my dad’s signature,” George said. “Now, I had run away because me and my stepmother didn’t get along too well. My mother had passed from a burst appendix when I was 9 months old, my dad had remarried and I suddenly had three half siblings. My dad had started drinking more, so I ran away with my cousin to work on an Indian reservation.
“But my dad told me he wouldn’t sign the papers and said he could instead get me a deferment if I worked on the family farm, but I didn’t want to do that. So, I told him, ’You would do me a favor to sign because if you don’t, when I’m 18, I will have to sign up for the Marines and I want to be in the Navy. So, either way, I’m going to serve.’ Dad signed my papers.”
Bill George, circa 1942
George ended up becoming a diesel mechanic for the Navy, working on S boats — submarines from WWI — at the Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base in Alaska. It was his job to board the subs when they returned to port and repair them for their next tour. After he spent two years there, the base closed.
George then decided he wanted to become a Frogman, today’s Navy Seal. But the Navy had already submitted his papers for work as a mechanic on an aircraft carrier in the Philippines. Shortly after his arrival on the aircraft carrier, however, WWII ended. Because George had enlisted under the Duration of War classification, his service was complete after three years.
Then 20, George had to again go to his dad for his signature to get married.
“At that time, girls only had to be 18 to get married, but boys had to be 21. I told my dad, ’For crying out loud, everything I do I have to get you to sign my papers,” he said.
George and his wife were married for 52 years. She passed away 27 years ago from cancer. Their two sons, Dennis, now 77, and Rich, 72, help him with some chores at his home. Yes, he still drives — he’s licensed for another four years — and prefers to cut his own lawn, his way. He has three grandchildren, with the “great” on the way. The best part though, he said, is still being able to dance.
“My walking isn’t as steady as it once was, but I can still dance as long as I can hang on to the gals,” he said with a laugh.
Though his military service ended more than 80 years ago, George remembers it vividly and would recommend the Navy to anyone interested in serving.
“The Navy was good to me,” he said. “After being discharged, my wife encouraged me to finish my high school education and earn a college degree under the GI bill. So I did.”
What followed was several years serving as a mechanic working on dams, more than 30 years as an accountant, and another 30 as a salesman for a major soup company.
Yes, George is retired now. And still making those around him laugh.
