Dwain Van Roekel was 15 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked, and he decided to act. In 1944, he graduated and attempted to join the U.S. Air Force. He failed the eye examination but was drafted by the Army.

“I almost failed the physical because of my blood pressure,” Van Roekel said. “I couldn’t get it up to 100, which was their limit. They finally said, ‘Think of anything exciting,’ and I got it up to 99. They said, ‘Close enough.’”

He spent 16 weeks in Camp Walters, Texas, for basic training. Van Roekel was able to use his love of typing to his advantage.