EAST CORNING, NY (WENY) -- Turning 100 years old is something to be celebrated. For one Chemung County man, that's exactly what happened on Saturday, spending the day surrounded by friends and family.

At the Friends of the Cross Christian Church in East Corning, Harry Hoyt was the center of attention. The World War II veteran and retired Elmira Police Officer is celebrating 100 years on this earth, and was surrounded by love.

"I'm not used to all this attention," Hoyt quipped.

Harry is one of less than less than 66,000 World War II veterans still living, of the more than 16 million who served in the Armed Forces. He joined the U.S Navy at just 17 years old, in 1943. 

"Why did I want to? I guess everybody else was going in, more like I didn't want to be left behind," he said. 

Harry spent most of his time in the Navy during the war serving in the South Pacific, as a machinist with the USS Marathon (APA 200). On March 22, 1945, he was on the deck when his ship was hit by a manned torpedo attack by the Japanese, that took the lives of 35 American sailors. According to his family, he normally would have been below deck at the time, but had gone above the get some fresh air.

"That’s when the torpedo hit. And as we understand about 30 men perished that day, and just the traumatic scene that was unfolding he did go down below to see what was happening, to see what he could do to help his servicemen, but he doesn't want to take credit for that," said his daughter, Sally Jones.

After the war, Harry met his wife Eleanor, and they were married in 1951. They shared five children together. He also began a career in law enforcement, and retired from the Elmira Police Department in 1987. 

"I am blessed with a great family, five children, they’ve all blessed me," Harry said. 

"We've got a lot of good memories growing up, all five of us on Perine street on the southside, Christmases together were fun, they always made it really enjoyable," said Harry's son, Bill Hoyt.

Bill and Sally also shared their father enjoyed tending to a large garden at their home, and also enjoyed hobbies like hunting and woodworking. 

Harry's family has expanded to nine grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. Some of them traveled from Iowa and Michigan to be at the momentous occasion, to celebrate a life well lived. Those around him saying Harry's life is full of blessings. Harry credits his long life in part to his faith. 

"I don't have any secrets. I trust in the Lord, that's the best thing I can tell... He's been with me all the way," he said.