Centenarian WWII Veteran Receives Congressional Gold Medal for Bravery and Innovation

Dr. Maury Irvine, a 100-year-old World War II veteran from San Francisco, received the Congressional Gold Medal on Thursday. Irvine, who moved to Montana and graduated from Butte High in 1941, was determined to fight despite his blindness preventing him from serving in most forces. He joined the Merchant Marine as a radio officer and used his experience with radios to serve his country until 1946.

When asked about his time in the Merchant Marine, Irvine expressed his love for his service and enjoyed every minute of it. Congressman Ryan Zinke, a Navy SEAL veteran representing Montana and its many veterans and heroes, presented Irvine with the Congressional Gold Medal on Thursday. Zinke felt honored to recognize Irvine for his courage during WW2 and his accomplishments post-war, which include developing early digital computer versions.

Past recipients of the award include Sir Winston Churchill and George Washington, highlighting the prestigious nature of the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Irvine received the award for his brave service during WW2 and his work in developing early digital computer versions after the war. His contributions to technology have left a lasting impact, particularly his innovation in making computers small enough to fit into airplanes.

In an interview after receiving the medal, Dr. Irvine expressed his gratitude for the honor one last time while reflecting on the significance of this journey as a veteran. He stated that he was humbled by this recognition and proud of what he had accomplished during WW2 and beyond.