AUSTINTOWN — Of the 16 million Americans who served in the military during World War II, just 70,000 are still alive. Four of these service members attended the 18th Patriot Day, which honors male and female veterans, Thursday at Quaker Steak & Lube in Austintown.

They ranged in age from 99-year-old Arthur Newell to centenarians, Victor Berarducci and the oldest, Joe Spurio, who will turn 105 this month. Fellow WWII veteran Andrew Pignanelli was honored posthumously. Ruth Wallace Ketzel, 102, a WWII veteran from the Nursing Corps, also was honored.

“This is the largest group of WWII veterans I have ever had,” said Ken Jakubec, coordinator of Patriot Day and a U.S. Marine Veteran. This was the 18th and final Patriot Day under his leadership.

He spoke of other locals who served.

“There is a well-known local doctor, Dr. Russell Morrison who served in Vietnam. He mentioned that this service experience made him a better physician. Also, a Marine veteran and McDonald resident, Ray Vaughn with a Bronze Star for Valor in Vietnam,” Jakubec said.

“There are 13 great stories of a great group who answered the call. This will put the total of veterans honored to over 260.”

Skydiver Jim Drummond, who was to make a dive and land in the parking lot of the restaurant, was grounded because of inclement weather.

Each honoree received a plaque from Gold Star daughter Kristin O’Neill and Susan Krawchyk, a U.S. Army veteran and director of Veterans Services for Mahoning County. Joe Lane donated the plaques to honor his father, Joe O. Lane, a WWII veteran.

Andrew Pignanelli, from Girard, was slightly built at 5-foot-4 and 110 pounds so he was a tail gunner during WWII. He was assigned to the B24 Liberator and the B17 in Belgium, Africa, France and Germany. His granddaughters, Kathy Worsencroft and Lauren Cercel, held his photo and received his award.

Victor Berarducci was born in Youngstown and enlisted in the US Navy in 1942. He served on an aircraft carrier looking for German submarines. His ship did stop a Japanese submarine from taking prisoners.

U.S. Army veteran Joe Spurio received an accounting degree from then-Youngstown University before being drafted. After serving stateside as a financial officer, he was sent to the South Pacific to New Caledonia and Guadalcanal. He spent two years in the Solomon Islands, where he was a quarter master in the finance office and handled payroll for his division. He has an Asian-Pacific ribbon.

Phil Albaneze, from North Jackson, joined the U.S. Army after graduating high school and triumphing over health challenges. Unfortunately, pneumonia kept him from leaving with his troop to Desert Storm. He was trained as a military police officer and received the National Defense Medal and Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Others honored during Patriot Day included:

• Arthur Newell, 99, U.S. Army WWII, 3rd Army 65th Infantry Division under Gen. George Patton.

• Ruth Wallace Ketzel, 102, 2nd Lt. U.S. Army WWII Nursing Corps, USS Republic Hospital Ship,

• Ken David, U.S. Army Specialist 4, 101st Airborne, Vietnam, Congressional Medal of Honor.

• Dr. Russell Morrison, Captain U.S. Army 44th Medical Brigade, Vietnam.

• Fred Schrock, Specialist 5 U.S. Army Medical Corpsman, Vietnam, Combat Medic Badge.

• Frank William Marr, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam, Cross of Gallantry.

• Steve Gazdik, Sgt. U.S. Army, Vietnam, Army Commendation Medal

• Dominic Diloreto, First Sgt. U.S. Army/National Guard, Vietnam 23rd Infantry Division, three Army Commendation Medals.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the VFW Meander Post 9571 Ellsworth gave a gun salute and Austintown Fitch Alumni and YSU Dana School of Music student and trumpet player Luke Wharten played taps for servicemen and women who are no longer with us.