Jim Wescoat was born on Dec. 7, 1921, in Atlantic City, N.J. Exactly 20 years later, after Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7, 1941, he joined the Marine Corps. 

Now 103, he’s the only Marine WWII veteran living at The Woodlands, a retirement community in Fairfax. And on Jan. 10, he received a patriotic quilt there from the Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOV), which makes quilts for military veterans.

“He’s given a lot to his country, and we believe he’s most deserving of this award,” said Madonna Rabatin, the foundation’s Virginia coordinator. “It’s an expression of gratitude from a grateful nation.”

She was among the women who together made his quilt. And her sister, Toni Rabatin, also with the foundation, explained its origin and purpose. A national organization, it was founded in 2003 by a Blue Star mom, Catherine Roberts. 

“With a son deployed in Iraq as a gunner atop a Humvee, she had a vision of a post-deployed warrior in the middle of the night, struggling with his war demons, while sitting on his bed, wrapped in a quilt,” said Toni Rabatin. “The quilt not only comforted the soldier but warded off the demons. [Thus], Quilts of Valor was founded with the message, ‘Quilts Equal Healing.’”

“The foundation’s mission is to cover active-duty service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor,” she continued. “While many bear the physical scars of battle, many others have been [affected] in less-visible ways by conflicts past and present.” Then, addressing Wescoat directly, she said they’d come to honor “your service, sacrifice and commitment to our Constitution. We’re indebted and thankful to you for taking the oath to defend our freedom.”

Since its inception, Quilts of Valor has garnered more than 11,000 volunteer quiltmakers and awarded more than 400,000 quilts worldwide. Rabatin said each quilt is created with love, care and gratitude. And she told Wescoat, “Your Quilt of Valor comes from the hearts of many thankful women and men. Through this quilt, you’ll forever be in our hearts.”

Noting that a quilt has three layers, she said the top features many colors, shapes and fabrics representing the many communities and individuals in the organization. The batting – the filling in the center – provides warmth. “It represents our hope that this quilt will bring warmth, comfort, peace and healing to you who receive it,” said Rabatin. “The backing is the strength supporting the other layers and represents the recipient’s strength and the support of your family, our community and our nation. And each stitch holding the layers together represents love, gratitude and, sometimes, the tears of the maker.”

Then, as her sister Madonna wrapped Wescoat’s quilt around him, Rabatin said, “With our deepest appreciation, we say, ‘Thank you for your service and welcome home.’”

Next, fellow Woodlands resident Ron Gallier read a poem he’d written about Wescoat, calling him “Woodlands’ pride and joy and every resident’s friend. It’s not to his age that I raise my glass, but to his incomparable touch of class.”

All the residents were gathered for the ceremony, and the guests included one of Wescoat’s daughters, Martha Wescoat-Andes of Fairfax. With her beaming proudly beside him, he told everyone, “This is incredible. I am so very, very thankful. The thoughtfulness and effort you put into this is outstanding and very much appreciated.

“I must tell you, though – in the service, I got more than I gave. I was a high-school dropout when I enlisted in the Marine Corps. In the military, I acquired a little bit of self-confidence. And when I got out [in 1945], I went back to high school and they said, ‘Yeah, we remember you, but we’ll try it again.’ They said if I did all my courses, they’d give me a diploma – the lack of which cost me dearly during my service.”

Besides being grateful to finally obtain his diploma, Wescoat said he was also thankful for that experience because, while on campus, he met “the gal who became my wife, the mother of my four children and my wonderful inspiration every day, still today. I appreciate all that’s been done for me and helped me, but I can’t find the words, except to say, thank you and God bless.”

A pianist then played the Marine Corps Hymn, and Army Col. (ret.) Jim Miller, also a resident, spoke about Wescoat. He said Wescoat served aboard the USS Denver during WWII. 

“As the Marines landed and took the Japanese islands, one by one, and Guadalcanal, the Navy provided an armada of ships – including the Denver – that shelled these islands before the Marines landed,” explained Miller. “I was a little boy then. But Jim [Wescoat] was a fighter, and I’m awful proud of him. Jim, thank you so much for your service, and I’m so happy you’re here with us and we can be friends.”

After the ceremony, Wescoat and his daughter told the Connection further details about his life. On the Denver, he said, he was a buck sergeant directing the ship’s 40-millimeter, anti-aircraft guns. He operated the equipment that lined them up to shoot at the enemy. 

But his ship was eventually torpedoed. “I was in the boiler room, and we were in Japanese waters and vulnerable,” said Wescoat. “They could have sunk us but didn’t. We were towed back to Guadalcanal and then to the States for repairs and then returned to the war.”

He left the Marines in November 1945, two months after the war ended. And while getting his high-school diploma, he met his future wife, Bonna – then a college student – when she returned to the school to visit a former mentor, who introduced them. He later attended UVA on the GI Bill, graduating around 1950 with a degree in engineering.

Wescoat then worked for Esso, Hess and Mobil in their oil refineries. “I was a safety and security inspector and went to all the refineries around the world that Mobil had,” he said. Afterward, he was with Mobil for decades as an engineer.

Along the way, he and Bonna married and had four children – Jim, Bonna, Martha and Andy – raising them in both Texas and New Jersey. After the children were grown, Mobil moved its headquarters to Fairfax in the late 1980s, so the Wescoats spent the next 30 years in Oakton. They eventually had eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild and were married for more than 70 years until Bonna died, two years ago, at age 93. 

After retiring from Mobil, Wescoat served his community as a volunteer. In Fairfax City, he helped the homeless by working for several years in The Lamb Center’s kitchen. And at Waple’s Mill Elementary in Oakton, he taught children how to build bridges out of cardboard during recess.

He’s also remained close with his family members. “He’s important to everyone in our family and is very much in touch with his grandchildren,” said Wescoat-Andes. “He and my mother were a team, and he’s a central figure in our family.” Re what she believes contributed to his longevity, she replied, “He’s a good and thoughtful person, led a good life and did good things for people.”

As for her dad’s Quilt of Valor, she said, “It’s such an honor. I quilt, so I know the amount of work and effort that goes into it.” Pleased with the ceremony at The Woodlands – which included a luncheon and cake – Wescoat-Andes said, “The Marines and other military veterans here have a strong community, which he really enjoys. They get together and support each other. And The Woodlands put on a beautiful event today – they really celebrate their residents.”

“I’ve lived here about six years,” said Wescoat. “It’s a nice place with friendly staff and residents. I also like the concerts and other entertainment we have here.” Regarding the quilt, he said, “So many people are much more deserving than I am, in terms of their contribution to the war effort.” 

Still, he was happy to be recognized with such a special ceremony. “I’m overwhelmed,” said Wescoat. “It was a wonderful effort by some very thoughtful people, and I’ll treasure the memories and the quilt.”

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Jim Sullivan nominated Wescoat to receive his Quilt of Valor. To make a nomination, go to https://www.qovf.org/nominations-awards/.