A World War II veteran who celebrated his 103rd birthday this past weekend shared his secret to a long and happy life.
Frank Pugliano Sr. from Washington Township, Pennsylvania, was surrounded by friends and family at Boyce Park right outside Pittsburgh to celebrate this incredible milestone.
‘The greatest day of my life,’ he told local ABC affiliate WTAE. ‘I never thought I’d be here at 103, going from what I went through. You never know. A lot of my friends never made it, but I made it.’
The seasoned veteran has lived quite the life. At age six, Pugliano immigrated from Italy to the United States. He attended Penn Hills High School, where he met the love of his life Mary Strough.
After graduating high school in 1942, Pugliano immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for three years in the Pacific theater. He survived a torpedo attack by the Japanese on his convoy mission to Luzon in the Philippines.
He was honorably discharged in 1945. After he returned home from war, Pugliano married high high school sweetheart, and raised two children together. They were married for 65 years before she died in 2011.
Now three-years into being a centenarian, Pugliano is self-sufficient. He cuts his own grass, does his own housework, and plays several instruments, including the organ, harmonica, electric guitar and saxophone.
He worked as a diesel mechanic, specializing in heavy equipment. In his last 15 years of working, he was employed at the 55-and-over residential community High View Acres to maintain the clubhouse until the age of 98.
On his 100th birthday, Pugliano told TRIBLive that he credits his health to ‘good Italian genes’ and staying active.
‘I keep busy. I cut my own grass. My diet is whatever I want to eat, I eat,’ he said.
However, this year Pugliano revealed to WTAE two other All-American secrets to longevity and happiness: eat dark chocolate and drink Coke.
‘The doctor told me, “Whatever you’re doing, do it,”‘ Pugliano said.