WEST POINT, N.Y. -- On this national Purple Heart Day, West Point honored World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Arnold Kapernick, who turned 100 years old today on Aug. 7.

He worked as a B-24 Liberator mechanic and earned the rank of sergeant during his service as part of the U.S. Army Air Force, 8th Air Force and assigned to the 448th Bomb Group out of Seething Airfield in Seething, England, from 1943-45.

When he returned home, his interest in photography led to a career as a still photographer for the film industry, which included appearing or working on films such as MacArthur, Bang The Drum Slowly and The Godfather.

Kapernick and his wife, Brenda, who passed away a few years ago, settled in the local area in Monroe, where he became mayor of the community on Cedar Cliff Road.

During lunch, Col. Sean Hipp, Keller Army Community Hospital commander, presented Kapernick with two coins and a letter from U.S. Military Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland to honor the 100th birthday of the World War II veteran.