While he was trying to stay afloat after swimming from his downed naval ship, all Jesse Linam wanted to do was come home to marry the young woman he had met before enlisting.

“I asked God to give me strength to get to that ship because I wanted to go home and marry her and that I would raise a family and dedicate them back to His service,” Jesse said.

The Linams, Jesse and Irene, celebrated their 78th wedding anniversary this year. Jesse turns 103 in July and Irene will celebrate 95 years Sund...