ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — At 103-years-old, Navy veteran Jim Ingutti said he's content with the hard work he's poured into building his life. For Veterans Day this year, Ingutti sat down with News 8 and reflected on his decades of service to others. He said it started with a love of sports, and being active from a young age. He tried to do it all. "I loved sports all my life, I played basketball, baseball," he said. "When I went to school there was no football, it was too early." Ingutti enlisted in the Navy and served for two years. He became a 1st Class Seaman and was later part of the allied troops that stormed the beaches of Normandy during World War II. "When we made the Invasion of Normandy, we were supposed to go in there the fifth, but the water was so rough, so we had to wait," he explained. "Eisenhower, who was the President, said 'don't strike a match of light any lights, they'll see us, and we'll get killed!' The next day we went in." He said he's thankful for those who made it out, but acknowledged many men weren't as fortunate. "We had to do what we had to do. So far, it's worked." While he kept in touch with a few of his fellow servicemembers in the years after the war, he said he's not sure how many others are still alive. After the war, Ingutti raised a family - something he considered one of his proudest accomplishments. "When the war was over, they got rid of me," he admitted with a laugh. "I got out and raised a nice family, and a decent home, and a beautiful life - took care of everybody." He dedicated decades of his life to working - all for his family. When we asked him why he didn't retire sooner, he said he was just happy to do it. "I worked until I was 98 years old, yeah I enjoyed it. I had a family of five children," he explained. "So, I had to make sure that I worked to take care of my folks." (WROC/Emalee Burkhard) Flower City Hockey organizes Veterans Day game On this Veterans Day, as men and women are honored as heroes for serving their country and treated, Ingutti said it's an important recognition. "These veterans deserve everything they're getting; it was a tough battle. Nobody really knows how bad it is to go through a war."