WWII veteran celebrates 103rd birthday

WWII veteran Sgt. Margaret Petrick celebrated her 103rd birthday last month, and, on Veterans Day, was presented a certificate of appreciation by the American Legion for her service to her country.

Petrick, then Margaret Twedt, served in the United States Army Women's Air Corps from February 1943 to January 1946 at Governors Island in New York as a clerk in military intelligence, where she frequently worked with the U.S. Secret Service.

She said her memory isn't what it used to be, so she doesn't remember a lot of the details about her service but there are a few things that stick in her mind, like the number on her military identification tag.

"912197, you never forget that," she said. "You repeat it a thousand times."

When asked what she liked most about her time in the army she said, "Just being there I guess ... I enjoyed being in the service."

Petrick's son Ray said his mother always said she wanted to be stationed overseas, but never got the chance.

Ray Petrick said when his mother had been selected as a candidate for her position, she went through a vigorous vetting process, with Army background checkers calling her friends, members of her family and local police to make sure she was an upstanding citizen.

Petrick was presented the certificate of appreciation by American Legion Montana District 2 Commander Jed Damson and his wife, American Legion Unit 11 President Marlyn Damson.