He’s 105 years old and just got an honor. WWII vet to lead Florida Veterans Day parade
When John V. Skeen, a 105-year-old Bradenton man and World War II combat veteran, learned he had been selected as grand marshal of the Manatee County Veterans Day parade, he was in disbelief.
“I’m just an old West Virginia hillbilly, an old foot soldier,” he said.
Those who know him would say he’s much more — with a remarkable record of courage, service to others and accomplishment.
As a member of America’s greatest generation, Skeen’s early years through the Great Depression and World War II weren’t easy.
He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1918 during the worldwide influenza pandemic, which claimed the lives of 22 of his family members, including his father, a 2-year-old brother and his grandmother.
As a teenager, he excelled at sports and was named to all-state teams in baseball and football. He was offered a contract with a Cincinnati Reds farm team. But those plans were interrupted in 1941 when he was drafted into the U.S Army as the West Virginia National Guard was activated.
He served 18 months in Alaska before being shipped to Marseilles, France, in 1944 as a platoon sergeant with the 70th Infantry Division.
What followed was intensive combat from the Battle of the Bulge during the coldest winter in more than 50 years, before attacking into Germany.
“They shuffled us all over the place,” Skeen recalls.
One of the memories that haunts Skeen is being ambushed by German troops as his unit was advancing on Bitche, France, near the German border, to relieve another unit.
Skeen’s unit lost 21 men in the ambush, including 16 killed. They were surrounded for three days with little to eat. Skeen, a nonsmoker, traded his C-ration cigarettes to other G.I.s for chocolate bars.
“We were subject to artillery fire from the Germans and from our own side after we lost radio contact,” he said. “As a combat infantryman, you live day to day.”
During his time in Europe, he was wounded twice — once by shrapnel and once by gunshot. He received the Purple Heart twice and the Bronze Star Medal for taking out a machine gun nest. He was offered a battlefield commission twice, which he turned down to stay with his platoon.
“I saw acts of courage and bravery that never received any recognition at all. That hurts me more than anything else,” he said.
“I still hear all their names,” Skeen said of those who lost their lives.
After the war
Skeen married, started a family, and worked as a mechanical engineer for DuPont for 40 years before retiring to Bradenton.
He stayed in touch with many of those he served as well as with families who lost loved ones in the war. He was vice president and archivist for the Trailblazers Association of veterans from the 70th Infantry Division.
“It was touching,” Skeen said of talking to a family member about their soldier lost in the war, or in some cases providing them with a photo of their loved one.
Move to Bradenton
“I retired on Friday and moved to Bradenton on Monday in 1982. I’ve been here 40 years,” he said.
For 22 years, he volunteered two days a week at Missionary Village, a retirement village for retired missionaries in east Manatee County. The village was founded by Tropicana founder Anthony Rossi, a deeply religious man.
Rossi was so impressed with Skeen that he offered him a job. Rossi was a hard man to say no to.
But after talking it over with his wife, Beatrice, the couple decided John should remain retired and continue as a volunteer.
Skeen declined the offer and said he will never forget Rossi’s reaction.
“Mr. Rossi pointed his finger at me and said, ‘You never retire from the Lord’s work,’ ” Skeen said.
Recent recognition
Although Skeen never sought attention for his service, the community has taken notice in recent years.
In 2022, Skeen was among six local veterans honored with Rep. Vern Buchanan’s inaugural Congressional Veteran Commendation.
Buchanan established the awards to honor the wartime sacrifices and peacetime community involvement of veterans in Florida’s 16th Congressional District.
This year, the Manatee County Commission declared Tuesday, Oct. 3 — his birthday — John V. Skeen Day.
“The honor and attention he has received is on behalf of all he served with, especially the ones who didn’t come back. They are looking down, happy for him,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Kevin W. Wright, who served two tours in Iraq.
“We take delight in seeing John recognized. He’s been an inspiration,” Wright said.
Skeen has a keen mind and recently renewed his driver’s license, although he says he no longer ventures much beyond his neighborhood.
He is a regular at the “Breakfast Brigade” gatherings of veterans Tuesdays at Bob Evans restaurant, 7393 State Road 70 E.
The vets say the Pledge of Allegiance and then sit down for a shared meal.
“We don’t talk much about the war. We talk about our families,” Skeen said.
Skeen’s son, Greg Skeen, 63, said that growing up he doesn’t remember his father talking about his wartime experiences.
“I think many times about the things he saw and endured, losing his brothers in arms and how he couldn’t do anything about it,” he said.
“I am grateful to God that he returned from the war. The fallen are the true heroes and he feels that way, too,” Greg said.
The most recent honor to come Skeen’s way is his selection as the grand marshal for this year’s Manatee County Veterans Day parade.
“It’s reflective of the glory of those we served with,” Wright said.
What to know about the parade
The annual Manatee County Veterans Day parade is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, starting at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., and ending at Sutton Park, 1036 6th St. W., Palmetto.
Lee Washington, a Marine Corps veteran and former Manatee County administrator, will deliver the Veterans Day address at 11 a.m. at Sutton Park after the parade.
