Dr. Maury Irvine, a 100-year-old World War II veteran, was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal on Thursday in recognition of his bravery and contributions to technology. Born in San Francisco and a graduate of Butte High in 1941, Irvine’s interest in joining the Navy was sparked by Pearl Harbor and WW2. However, his blindness prevented him from serving in most forces.
Determined to fight for his country, Irvine joined the Merchant Marine as a radio officer, using his experience with radios to serve until 1946. When asked about his time in the Merchant Marine, Irvine expressed his love for the service and every minute he spent there.
Congressman Ryan Zinke, a Navy SEAL veteran representing Montana and its veterans and heroes, presented Irvine with the Congressional Gold Medal on Thursday. Zinke felt honored to recognize Irvine’s courage during WW2 and his accomplishments post-war. Past recipients of the award include Sir Winston Churchill and George Washington, highlighting the prestigious nature of the Congressional Gold Medal.
Irvine received this award not just for his brave service during WW2 but also for developing early digital computer versions after the war. His innovation in making computers small enough to fit into airplanes left a lasting impact on technology. Irvine expressed his gratitude for this honor one last time while reflecting on the significance of this award and his journey as a veteran.
In summary, Dr. Maury Irvine received the Congressional Gold Medal on Thursday as recognition for his bravery during WW2 and contributions to technology post-war. He served as a radio officer in the Merchant Marine despite being blind due to which he couldn’t serve in most forces. He later developed early digital computer versions that left a lasting impact on technology after being recognized by Zinke who represented Montana along with many veterans and heroes including past recipients such as Sir Winston Churchill and George Washington highlighting its prestigious nature.
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