USS Midway Museum honors WWII Veterans with a meet and greet

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- In honor of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the USS Midway Museum will host an event to honor those who served.

Museum visitors will have the opportunity to thank and interact with World War II veterans on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the Midway's hangar deck.

During the event, 10 World War II veterans from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Army Air Corps, and Coast Guard will share their stories.

After the meet and greet, the WWII Veterans will honor the Navy's 250th birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony on the Midway's hangar deck.

Here is a list of the World War II Veterans museum guests will meet:

-- Al Hansen, U.S. Navy: Al joined the Navy in 1943 at 16 years old and was assigned as a gunner with a Navy patrol-bomber squadron in the Pacific Theater. Al is 98 years old and still an active Midway Museum volunteer.

-- Fred Taylor, U.S. Army Air Corps: Fred joined Army Air Corps Reserve in 1941 and flew P-40 Warhawks and P-51D Mustangs while deployed to the European Theater. Fred will be 104 years old in November.

-- Calvin Shiner, U.S. Army: Shiner served with the Army’s Company B, 1328th Engineering Construction Battalion, an all-Black unit. In August 1943, he embarked for Europe. Calvin is 102 years old.

-- Ena Reynolds Slaughter, U.S. Coast Guard: Ena served as a member of the Coast Guard’s women’s reserve, known as SPARS (Semper Paratus - Always Ready). She worked at a medical facility conducting diagnostic tests and administering medications. Ena is 100 years old.

-- Roberta “Randy” Tidmore, U.S. Marine Corps: Randy joined the Marine Corps in 1944. She was assigned to a motor transport unit at Marine Corp Base Quantico in Virginia and later supporting logistics at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Randy is 103 years old.

-- Max Gurney, U.S. Army: Max was a member of the Army’sOffice of Strategic Services (OSS) supporting espionage and psychological warfare operations. Max is 104 years old.

-- Art Dioli, U.S. Navy: Art joined the Navy in 1945 and served aboard the USS Wilmette. Art is 98 years old.

-- Roy Mosteller, U.S. Navy: Roy was a member of the Navy’s naval investigative service. Roy is 99 years old.

-- Royce Williams, U.S. Navy: Roy qualified as a naval aviator in August 1945. He later flew 70 combat mission during the Korean War and is credited with shooting down four enemy MiG 15 fighters. Roy is 100 years old.

-- Walter Travis, U.S. Marine Corps: Walter served in the Pacific Theater as a member of a Marine Corps fighter squadron that deployed to Guadalcanal, New Guinea and the Philippines. Walter is 101 years old.