PARIS — Roger F. Obie is the veteran of the month at the Maine Veterans Home.

 Obie was born in Auburn on Nov. 12, 1923. He grew up in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School.

Roger joined the Coast Guard in February 1943 during World War II. Roger was a 3rd class radioman aboard the Coast Guard Destroyer and served on the African coast, the Mediterranean coast, Guantanamo Bay, the Panama Canal and Pearl Harbor protecting merchant ships. He also did some training in the Pacific for the invasion of Japan just before the war ended.

Roger achieved the rank E4, he also received the Asia medal, the Pacific medal and the American Defense medal. He was discharged in January 1946.

Roger worked in various shoe shops throughout Maine for 23 years. He used the G.I. bill education benefits to learn how to hand sew high-end shoes. Towards the end of his hand sewing career he was what they called a “sample” sewer. Shoe companies like Bostonian shoes would use these samples for marketing their products to Boston and New York markets. He also worked at Industrial Welding in Portland repairing ships.

One of his experiences that he had was that he got to watch the movie “Casablanca” while he was in Casablanca.

In July 1947 Paul married Theresa and they had three wonderful children, Paul, Ronald and Ann. They also have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Roger enjoyed dancing and playing many sports, such as baseball, tennis, swimming, basketball and track.

Roger came to the Maine Veterans’ Home in September 2011. He enjoys exercising, the food and listening to the music.