EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a weekly series highlighting local veterans that runs on Mondays through Veterans Day.

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Larry Moler, a U.S Navy Korean War veteran, celebrated his 93rd birthday at his home in Masury in January.

The year was 1950 and Moler, 18, had recently graduated from Niles High School. That same year, the Korean War broke out.

“Americans were called to join the war,” Moler said. “Myself and my older brother, Donald, decided to enlist. We felt it was the right thing to do for our country.”

The United States joined the Korean War primarily to defend South Korea, a noncommunist government, and to maintain its global credibility and prestige, especially after the fall of China to communism. America feared that the North Korean invasion of South Korea was part of a larger communist expansionist strategy.

Moler enlisted in 1951 and served in the United States Navy through 1955. receiving the Korean War Ribbon for his service.

Stationed aboard the USS Perkins DDR 877, Moler endured more than his fair share of trauma. The ship was hit with a “personnel shell,” a type of artillery shell designed specifically to kill or injure personnel. The shell killed one of Moler’s comrades and wounded 17 other sailors.”The typhoons were treacherous,” Moler said. “One moment the entire ship reached the crest and the next moment it dropped like a lead balloon. It was scary beyond belief.”

Moler, despite being 93, recalls his four years in the Navy as if they were yesterday. As a Second Class Machinist Mate, he kept the machinist operating room in top condition to prepare for unforeseen dangers.

“The scariest part was never knowing what to expect next,” Moler said, “but there were other great memories that were quite enjoyable. I saw Bob Hope at Chicago’s Great Naval Center.”

Born in January, 1932, to Louis Carl Moler and Mary Ann Bizjak Moler, Larry began his working career as a paperboy delivering the Youngstown Vindicator to neighborhoods in Niles. He also set pins at the Niles bowling alley while growing up.

While attending Niles High School, at age 16, Moler worked at the Robins Furniture store. He also worked with his father installing antennas on numerous homes and taverns in the area. During lunch breaks, Moler frequented Philadelphia Candies, where he met his future wife, Olga.

They were married in 1954 while Moler was still in the Navy.

“I missed her so much,” Moler said. “The hardest part of being in the service was being away from my beautiful wife.”

Olga died in 2018 after 64 years of marriage.

Growing up, Moler took an interest in boxing at a very young age. He suffered a broken ear drum from the sport. When he enlisted, he could have taken an exemption because of being hearing impaired, but instead he chose to serve his country.

As a senior in high school, Moler’s claim to fame, in 1949, came when he was a runner-up in the Youngstown Golden Gloves, greatly popular at the time, after being trained by the famed Matt McGowan.

Moler stayed in the boxing circuit after he was done fighting. He became a writer for the Over-The-Hill-Gang, Legends of Leather and Boxing Review publications.

After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1955, Moler attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering. He obtained a job at Trostel Tannery in 1957, where he was a maintenance electrician.

In 1964, Moler relocated to Westmont, Illinois, to work at Argonne National Laboratory. There he worked as a maintenance mechanic, and was promoted to maintenance foreman in 1977. He retired from Argonne in 1993.

During his time in Wisconsin and Illinois, Moler was a Boy Scout Master and enjoyed being with kids outdoors. He also was a member of the Slovenian Lodge.

In 1997, Moler and his family moved to Masury, where he lives with his son, Alan, and daughter, Anne.

So what did he love the most about his tour in the Navy?

“I liked traveling to Hong Kong and China,” Moler said, “but most of all, I loved the lessons I learned in the Navy that carried with me for the rest of my life — teamwork and responsibility. What I learned in the service helped me through my career afterward.”

Larry Moler

AGE: 93

RESIDENCE: Masury (formerly of Niles)

SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. Navy

MILITARY HONORS: Korean War Ribbon

OCCUPATION: Maintenance electrician (retired)

FAMILY: Wife of 64 years, Olga (deceased); son, Alan and daughter, Anne