Austin, TX — From Sailor to Centenarian — Francis “Jerry” McArdle’s Story Spans a Century
Francis Jerome McArdle—better known as Jerry—turns 100 years old on June 4, 2025. Born outside Pittsburgh in 1925, Jerry grew up during the Great Depression, helping his family sell baked goods at a farmers market to make ends meet. At 17, with WWII underway, Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy, becoming the youngest sailor on his ship.
He quickly became a beloved “kid” among his crewmates, even helping install blackout windows for President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Yalta Conference. He boxed at 145 pounds—mainly for the steak dinners—and served as a designated driver on leave, since he was too young to drink…