AUSTIN, Texas — In a historic moment marking the end of World War II, Japanese officials signed the formal instrument of surrender aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945. It marked the end of a six-year struggle as American and allied forces fought against Germany and Japan.

Sixteen million American men and women served during the war. Today, only about 60,000 World War II veterans are still with us, among them Lew Griffith, who lives in Austin.

Griffith turned 101 years old earlier this year and vividly recalls a time when he risked his life to defend his country.

On Dec. 7, 1941, the day Japanese bombers and submarines struck the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Griffith hadn’t heard about the attack as he was out with some University of Texas friends at Pease Park on a cool Sund

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