ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — At 103-years-old, Navy veteran Jim Ingutti said he’s content with the hard work he’s poured into building his life. For Veterans Day this year, Ingutti sat down with News 8 and reflected on his decades of service to others.
He said it started with a love of sports, and being active from a young age. He tried to do it all.
“I loved sports all my life, I played basketball, baseball,” he said. “When I went to school there was no football, it was too early.”
Ingutti enlisted in the Navy and served for two years. He became a 1st Class Seaman and was later part of the allied troops that stormed the beaches of Normandy during World War II.
“When we made the Invasion of Normandy, we were supposed to go in there the fifth, but the water was so rough, so we had to wait,” he explained. “Eisenhower, who was the President, said ‘don’t strike a match of light any lights, they’ll see us, and we’ll get killed!’ The next day we went in.”
He said he’s thankful for those who made it out, but acknowledged many men weren’t as fortunate.