{"id":7602,"date":"2026-06-07T20:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7602"},"modified":"2026-06-07T20:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T20:30:00","slug":"just-do-it-and-be-proud-a-century-of-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7602","title":{"rendered":"Just do it and be proud: A century of service"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2026-06-07T20:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

100-year-old Korean War Veteran speaks on her century of service, life and patriotism<\/h2>\n

At 100 years old, Korean War Veteran Catherine Alessandri offers a living reminder that history is not only found in books, but in the lives of those who had the courage to serve, persevere and help shape the generations that followed.<\/p>\n

A life rooted in service<\/h2>\n

Alessandri, who will turn 101 in June, served in the Navy during the Korean War<\/a> era and still speaks with pride about wearing the uniform.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a wonderful life,\u201d she said. \u201cI loved the military, always have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Born in Kansas City, Kan., in 1925, Alessandri grew up in a family deeply connected to military service. Her father served in the Navy during World War I, and her brother served in the Navy during World War II before he was killed in a plane crash in 1945, just days before his 24th birthday. The loss of her brother left a lasting mark on Alessandri and strengthened her own desire to serve.<\/p>\n

Answering the call to serve<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/a>
Navy Veteran Catherine Alessandri with her husband and their daughter. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Alesandri wanted to join the military sooner, but after losing their son, her parents were not willing to sign for her while she was underage. She ultimately made it into the Navy just before the age cutoff, celebrating her 24th birthday while in boot camp.<\/p>\n

Before entering the military, she described her life as happy and full. She worked for an insurance company, did some modeling for a department store, traveled and even moved away from home for a time to prove to herself that she could live independently. Still, the military remained on her heart.<\/p>\n

After boot camp, Alessandri was assigned as a personnel man, handling records. Near the end of her service, she stepped into a leadership role as chief master at arms of a Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) barracks after the chief retired.<\/p>\n

Serving as a woman in a different era<\/h2>\n

Her service came at a time when women made up only a small fraction of the Armed Forces, and opportunities for them were limited. Alessandri recalled that women often had to navigate disrespect, low expectations, and unfair treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the sailors thought we were there to entertain them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Even so, she met those challenges with resilience, humor and confidence. In one memorable moment, when a chief backed her against a wall in the barracks, she quickly warned him, \u201cIf you don\u2019t want to sing soprano, step back.\u201d<\/p>\n

While she said there were few opportunities for women to truly \u201cshine\u201d in the roles available to them at the time, she takes pride in how far women in uniform have come.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so proud when I see a chief that has a family and she still was able to do her 20 years, maybe 25 years, have a good career, have a good retirement, have her kids proud of her,\u201d Alessandri said. \u201cI see no reason that a woman can\u2019t be as proud of her country as a man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strength beyond the uniform<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/a>
Navy Veteran Catherine Alessandri with her family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Her strength extended well beyond her military years. After the death of her husband in 1975, Alessandri raised six children and later earned a 4-year college degree in business administration and psychology in her 50\u2019s using her husband\u2019s G.I. Bill.<\/p>\n

Looking back on a century of life, she credits hard work, resourcefulness and perspective for carrying her through. She made clothes for her children, stretched every dollar and found ways to keep moving forward through hardship.<\/p>\n

Those who care for Alessandri today say her presence continues to leave a lasting impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be a member of her care team has been a great pleasure,\u201d said Ursula Nelson, social worker with Home Based Primary Care. \u201cHer outlook on life is inspiring. At 100-years old, she continues to impart her wisdom on those she encounters and continues to be enthusiastic regarding the uplift of women.\u201d<\/p>\n

A message for the next generation<\/h2>\n

For young people today, especially young women, Alessandri\u2019s message is simple and powerful.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust do it and be proud,\u201d she said. \u201cBe the best you can be at what you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also hopes younger generations understand that history is unfolding all around them, and that their choices matter. Her story is a reminder that women have long been making history, and the next generation is continuing that story every day.<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At 100 years old, Korean War Veteran Catherine Alessandri shows how a century of service can shape history and inspire generations that follow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"\nJust do it and be proud: A century of service - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At 100 years old, Korean War Veteran Catherine Alessandri shows how a century of service can shape history and inspire generations that follow.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7602\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Just do it and be proud: A century of service - 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