Samowitz receives salute at 99th birthday party

How does it feel to be 99?

“Just a little bit older than it feels to be 98,” said Grand Bay resident Marty Samowitz, who celebrated his 99th birthday with family members and friends Monday, Oct. 28.

Samowitz is the oldest living survivor of the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was part of the Seventh Fighter Command, 20th Air Force but got orders to ship out to attach to a Marine unit during World War II.

Upon returning home, he took a job at a shoe store, then went into the business himself and built the northeastern chain Marty’s Shoes.

Samowitz’s friend, Robert Traphagen, recalled visiting Samowitz, then 87. Traphagen had just completed his first marathon and was in the best shape of his life.

Samowitz invited Traphagen to swim laps at Grand Bay’s pool. Even at 87, Samowitz could out-swim his marathon-running friend.

“I saw you were laboring, so I stopped,” he told Traphagen after 54 laps.

Observer Media Group CEO Matt Walsh presented Samowitz with a video from the Betio Bastards, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines aboard the USS Kearsarge.

The young Marines thanked him for his service and wished him “hoorahs” and “semper fi” from their ship.

Like a true Marine, Samowitz responded with a salute.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]