98-year-old man honored as one of last living World War ll vets in West Virginia

CLARKSBURG, W.Va (WDTV) – Friends, fellow veterans and community members came to the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility on Wednesday to honor Paul McCue.

McCue is a 98-year-old World War ll veteran and has been a true hero in our community.

He joined the U.S. Naval Amphibious Forces at 16, and continued to serve his community even after retirement.

“After I retired, I worked at the Pittsburgh Paints for 12 years 11 months, and then I worked, at the same time I worked for Paints, I was a constable. Then when the Paints went out it left me just a constable and I was dedicated at being a constable, didn’t have no backup and I took chances,” said McCue. “And then when I got through constable then I went in the Sheriff’s Department, and all together 12 years and 11 months in the Sheriff’s Department.”

McCue joined the Navy in 1943 in the middle of World War ll.

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. David Tucker says honoring McCue is important because he’s part of what’s called ‘The Greatest Generation’.

“They answered freedom’s call for help and it’s our greatest need, and that is something that is just as important today as it was back then,” said Tucker. “We owe men like Mr. McCue a debt that can never be repaid.”

McCue wants to have a bridge dedicated to him in West Virginia.

Although that can’t officially happen until he passes, he was presented with a symbolic street sign at the ceremony Wednesday to celebrate his legacy now.

McCue hopes that all of his photos and documents from the war end up at the Clarksburg History Museum one day to help educate the community about his life and the war.

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