101-year-old WWII veteran surprised by crew of USS Fort Worth

Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County went the extra mile to make a special delivery to a 101-year-old military veteran in Haltom City.

Elsie Rippin, known to most as Ms. Kitty, turned 101 on January 31.

As a show of appreciation, men and women from the San Diego-based US Navy combat ship the USS Fort Worth thanked Ms. Kitty for her service.

Elsie Rippin

The backstory:

Rippin served from 1942 to 1944 in the US Navy's program called WAVES, or the Women Accepted for Volunteer Service.

The program allowed women to take on-shore assignments, so more men could serve on sea duty.

Ms. Kitty worked as an aviation machinist mate.

"When the war broke out there was no TV or nothing like that. There was just radio, and I don’t think I was that patriotic. Everybody was joining, and I wanted to join something," she said. "I worked on airplane parts, you know, cleaning them when the airplane was down."

Navy crew surprises 101-year-old veteran

At the birthday celebration, Ms. Kitty was given a cake, a gift and got to meet members of the USS Fort Worth and Meals on Wheels.

"It is powerful to hear about how regular people come into our naval service to do their work, do it diligently, and they make us stronger as a country and a Navy," said Capt. Dana Canby with the USS Fort Worth.

Ms. Kitty received a phone with extra large number buttons.

"Overjoyed. I don’t know. I just thought you all would come by and just say something and that would be it. But my God, yall gave me such nice gifts. Of course I like my telephone best, and next goes the cake," she said.

She also shared some thoughts about her longevity.

"I danced all my life, I loved to dance, ballroom dancing. I ate chocolate candy, I never did smoke or drink alcohol," she said.

The Source: Information in this article comes from FOX 4 crews at the surprise in Haltom City.

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