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By Sheri Herrin, Indianapolis Star correspondent, May 26, 2007 A pair of plain black leather shoes are all that Raymond Marple, 93, has left from his U.S. Navy uniform in World War II. "These shoes are nearly 70 years old," said Marple, Martinsville. Marple wore those shoes Sunday when he participated in the 94th Morgantown Memorial Parade. Along with the shoes, he sported a new uniform of sparkling Navy dress whites similar to the uniform he wore as a Seabee more than 60 years ago. Nanny State: How Food Fascists, Teetotaling Do-Gooders, Priggish Moralists, and other Boneheaded Bureaucrats are Turning America into a Nation of Children A recent illness prompted Marple to reflect on his time in the service during World War II. His daughters, Margaret Hannum, 64, and Linda Strickland, 60, searched and found a forgotten photograph of their father dressed in his Navy uniform. They went to an Army surplus store, where they found a uniform that was exactly the same except for a missing stripe on the sleeve. "The missing one was for a machinist, first class," Marple said. Marple was overcome with emotion when he was presented with the uniform a few weeks ago. "I was surprised," Marple said. "I didn't know they were going to do that." Asked to participate in the parade to honor veterans, Marple showed up dressed in his new uniform and old shoes. His back was straight and he stood tall as he returned a salute from son-in-law Loren Hannum with a crisp salute of his own. Marple, who was born in Kentucky, moved to Indiana when he was around 4. He has lived in Martinsville since 1952. Marple joined the Navy in 1941, shortly before the United States entered World War II. As a member of the Seabees, he worked with units that built roads, airfields and buildings for the armed services. Marple had construction and heavy equipment experience that was needed at the time. Among the places Marple served during the war were Saipan and Okinawa. While on Saipan, he witnessed a June 19, 1944, air battle known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot. "There were 100 Japanese airplanes shot down in one day," Marple said. "It was a turning point in the war. "It was really something to watch," he added. "We sat and watched it like a ballgame. It all happened right over the water." After Saipan, Marple was deployed to Okinawa where he finished out his service. By the time the war ended, Marple was a first-class petty officer. Marple was a member of the 33rd Battalion. He has lost contact with his former comrades. "I think I'm one of the last ones remaining in my outfit," Marple said. Marple and his wife, Lucille, 88, have been married since 1942. Daughter Margaret was born while he was stationed overseas. He didn't see her until after he returned from the war. He spent the rest of his working career at International Harvester in Indianapolis. During the parade, Marple rode in a cart driven by Strickland. The cart, decorated with American flags and Navy insignia, was pulled by a miniature horse owned by Strickland. Marple's other daughter drove a cart with her miniature horses. Both women are proud of their father. "I think it's a wonderful thing to be able to honor our veterans that have done so much for our country," Strickland said. "I am proud of my dad for his part in that war. It took something that I'm not sure the rest of us have." Hannum agrees. "It was a different generation back then," Hannum said. "I don't think today's generation can understand the difficulties faced by those in the war then and those left at home." The parade ended at the East Hill Cemetery, where there was a roll call of veterans buried at local cemeteries and special music. Marple waited patiently for the service to start as a gentle breeze blew the American flag he held in his left hand. His nearly 70-year-old shoes rested lightly on the cart. "I don't regret being in the war," he said. "I was doing something I knew how to do." center>