FRONTENAC ? A 104-year-old Frontenac man has been honored as the oldest Kansas veteran.

Frank Bozick was recognized Thursday during the annual Frontenac school district’s Veterans Day program as the oldest living member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas.

Bozick, who was drafted at age 38 to fight in World War II, is an active member of Frontenac American Legion Post 43.

“I was so much older than the other men in my unit that they called me Pops,” he said. “I served three years in the U.S. Army in tank repair. We landed on the beaches at Normandy seven days after D-Day. War is a funny thing you battle for a while, then you just sit there.”

Bozick received letters from Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and from Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., who also sent a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on May 4, 2007.

Capt. Drew Polen, commander of the Kansas National Guard’s 772nd Mobility Augmentation Company, read from the governor’s letter.

“You have the thanks of the entire State of Kansas for your lifelong dedication to protecting our nation,” the letter said.

Frontenac honored Bozick after clearing up reports that Harry Whistler, of Independence, was the state’s oldest veteran.

“It took us 2 1/2 months to get it all straightened out,” said Duke Locke, post sergeant at arms.

A historian at American Legion National Headquarters in Indianapolis confirmed in a letter that Bozick, who was born Feb. 11, 1903, is the oldest living veteran in Kansas.