Unalaska, AK – Aleutian WWII Seabee turns 100

Yesterday, in Brookline, New Hampshire, Bob Flannery celebrated his 100th birthday. Flannery, a World War Two navy veteran surrounded by his fellow Seabees, was teased for having a sole candle on his cake, according to an article written in The Citzen of Laconia.

Flannery told the Citizen of Laconia that during the war, he was stationed at various locations in the Aleutians. He said that he poured many foundations for bridges on the islands. At one point, he was injured by an "explosive shrapnel" while pouring a foundation on Attu. From the explosion, a piece of metal was lodged into the back of his neck, and he was airlifted to a Naval hospital "on the mainland." Because the piece of metal could not be removed, it remains in his body still, sixty years later. He was honored with a Purple Heart.

After healing, he returned to the Aleutians. Flannery was then stationed in Unalaska after the bombing, and describes his job as "another pair of hands [that] did everything except peel potatoes," he told the Citizen of Laconia.

Before serving in the navy, Flannery used to serve in the Army. He decided to try something new when he was recalled for the war, but almost didn't make it. At the local post office in Concord, Massachusettes, where the temporary recruiting office for the Seabees was located, he failed his hearing test. However, many other failed the test and he was allowed to retake, and he passed. The previous day, there had been so much noise from all of the men, that the din in the recruiting office caused many to fail.

After his service completed with the Navy in 1943, Flannery returned to Concord, Massachusettes where he had grown up, and worked as a mason for 15 years before starting his own business. Eventually, he moved to Brookline, New Hampshire where he still lives today.

Despite his age, Flannery still chops wood for his house and is very active, he never married or had children. On a monthly basis, Flannery is reunited with the Island X4 chapter of the Navy Seabees from New Hampshire who meet in Laconia. His 100th birthday party was held at the home of Larry Morrison, the commander of the seabee chapter. Flannery is thought to be the oldest Seabee in N.H. and possibly in the United States, according to the article.