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HAMILTON — He doesn't go on about it, but if someone asks him, Stan "Bud" Newkirk will tell them "yes, I am a Yankee Doodle Dandy."

Newkirk served on the USS Hornet during World War II and was born on Independence Day. He celebrated his 84th birthday today, July 4.

Sharing his birthday with America has always been fun, Newkirk said.

"Everybody celebrates," he said. "Good family parties ... it was just fun."

Newkirk, honorary grand marshal for Hamilton's Fourth of July Parade, said the celebration was "really, really a fine affair."

As Newkirk and 29 other World War II veterans drove down the parade route onlookers waved, saluted and clapped.

"It makes me feel wonderful," he said. "I get tickled when I see kids and their families along the parade route waving flags. These kids are future Americans and the parents are teaching them about being an American."

In 1943 Newkirk dropped out of school after his first quarter at Ohio State and joined the Navy, serving in the Pacific.

It was scary when "we got shot at," Newkirk said.

"The most scary time was when kamikazes came in," he said. "Aircraft carriers were their primary targets. We heard that when they took off on kamikaze missions, they were expected to drive their airplanes, loaded with bombs, into ships. It was beyond our comprehension."

Even though he gave up three years of his life, Newkirk said he also gained a lot "and everybody had to give up something — young guys and the people here at home. Americans weren't only overseas, Americans were at home and they absolutely gave up a lot. I don't feel I deserve any more credit that the people at home. The only difference is we got shot at."

When Newkirk returned home he graduated from college and married. He and his wife, Betty, have been married for 61 years.

He has served two terms on Hamilton City Council and also served as superintendent of church school in the 1960s and as an elder at The Presbyterian Church on Front Street in Hamilton.

"I have served my nation, my community, my church and my family," he said. "And I am not finished yet."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.