T-L File Photo World War II veteran and former Powhatan Point mayor Joseph Binni celebrated his 100th birthday this year. He is pictured with his uniform.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Times Leader presents a look back at the past year this week with Eastern Ohio’s Top 10 stories of 2023, as selected by the newspaper’s editorial staff.

POWHATAN POINT — Joseph Binni is one of the area’s last surviving World War II veterans, celebrated his 100th birthday last January and is still doing well, according to staff at the Powhatan Point American Legion.

Binni received another honor in July, when the French government bestowed its Legion of Honor medal for his role in the Battle of the Bulge.

This is the highest national decoration in France and dates back to the era of Napoleon Bonapart in 1802.

There are five degrees, and Binni was named a knight of the Legion of Honor, the only degree open to non-French citizens.

His other honors include a Certificate of Honor from the District 11 American Legion and recognition of his 27 years of continuous membership in the American Legion, a Good Conduct medal, an American Campaign medal, World War II Victory medal and a European/African/Middle Eastern medal with four Bronze Stars.

Binni’s military service was from 1943-45 in the 264th Artillery Battalion.

As a technical sergeant and communications chief, he received orders from forward positions and helped his battalion target howitzers. Planes would observe from the air and direct the artillery.

In earlier interviews, he recalled his battalion dug in its howitzers to brace them against recoil, sometimes staying in position for a week and other times moving rapidly when needed. They operated in sub-zero weather while in Europe, and challenges included crossing the Rhine River over a pontoon bridge with 18 tons of artillery. While his direct involvement in combat was rare, he recalled being part of a column that came under strafing fire from a German plane while en route to the Battle of the Bulge.

He was training to fight in the Pacific theater until the war was ended by the atomic bombing of Japan in August 1945.

Binni grew up during the Great Depression. At 6 years old in Canton, Ohio, he was often out with his makeshift wagon gathering paper to sell at a paper packing plant. His family moved to Powhatan Point in the 1930s. He later served as village postmaster from 1964-83. He was responsible for naming and numbering all of the lots and alleys and determining which lots were occupied.

Binni also worked as a coal miner. He is a member of the United Mine Workers of America.

He served as mayor of Powhatan Point in the 1950s and ’60s.

His reception for the French Legion of Honor was well-attended by friends, family and fellow American Legion members.