Not many people can say they made it to their 102nd birthday, but World War II Navy veteran Edmund Talley can.
As a former aviation machinist's mate second class, Talley did just about everything except fly the planes. He worked on a number of aircraft as a mechanic, including fighter jets and dive bombers — but he had a favorite.
Known for being one of the fastest in the world at the time, Talley says the Vought F4U Corsair took the top spot of all the planes he worked on.
Talley joined the Navy after he graduated high school in Cleveland, Ohio, enlisting in December 1942.
"It seemed like a great thing to do. We were in a war, and I was young and didn't have people who depended on me," Talley said. "I was right for it."
During his 3½ years in the Navy, Talley saw a lot of the world working on fleets — starting in the Atlantic theater before winding up in the Pacific. He spent time in Hawaii, Guam and Okinawa.
Talley left the Navy in May 1946. Afterward, he attended Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve, receiving a degree in marketing in 1950.
Talley then started a career in industrial sales, later going on to run a plastics manufacturing company in Buffalo, N.Y.
He married Lucille in 1951, and they were together for nearly 41 years before she died. They had a daughter, Evelyn, in 1952, who went on to give her parents two grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Talley spoke highly of his family, especially his great-grandson, who he says has plans to visit Colorado this summer.
Talley sold his company and slowly settled into retirement in the 1990s, his granddaughter Stephanie Handy said.
Talley moved to the Colorado Springs area with Handy a little over a year ago. Coming from Washington, D.C., Talley says Colorado Springs is much better.
When asked if he missed anything from the East Coast, Talley answered a simple "No, I'm staying here." While he is still settling in, Talley says he is looking forward to exploring more of the region this summer.
"We are not native, but we are trying to get to native status," Talley said with a laugh.
Talley celebrated his birthday alongside a couple of fellow World War II veterans at a local Red Lobster.
Former U.S. Army Master Sgt. Edwin Beck, 100, served in both WWII and the Korean War.
During WWII, he and other members of his unit were captured and imprisoned in a German POW camp for six months.
Sitting on the other side of Talley was former U.S. Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Greg Ireton, 99. From 1943 to 1945, Ireton worked as a flight engineer. After his service, he became a banker.
The group of veterans frequently go to baseball games, museums and other events together. Despite never meeting during their years of service, the group is bonded together by their war experiences.
After a lobster dinner and a glass of red wine, Talley got to blow out his birthday candles for the 102nd time. Right before he blew out the flames, his granddaughter told him to make a wish.
"I wish we can all do this again next year," Talley said.
Talley said he made it to 102 by getting up each morning and simply making it through the day — and he plans on getting to 103 the same way.
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