COEUR d’ALENE — Earl Carroll’s apartment has an American flag that hangs above the stairway.

Photos and plaques are displayed, offering a glimpse of his 22-year Coast Guard career.

He’s wearing a blue hat that reads “World War II Veteran” in bright yellow letters with a pin and patches honoring his service.

"I earned those," he says.

And finally, his shirt reads “American Grandpa and proud of it!” with the letters spelling out Grandpa in red, white and blue.

“I’m fairly patriotic,” he said, with a bit of a smile as he looks around the room.

Carroll is 98 years old. The longtime Coeur d’Alene man hits a smooth putt and watches the ball roll across the carpet. He walks a visitor down the long flight of stairs to the front door. He hears, speaks well and sees well.

And there is still a twinkle in his eyes.

He is surprised when it is pointed out he is defying his age.

“I’m only 98,” he says without a hint that he is joking.

Carroll doesn’t go out often, but when he does, he wears that World War II cap. He enjoys it when people, particularly kids, thank him for his service.

“It’s nice,” he said.

Today, he will celebrate Veterans Day with lunch at Hudson’s Hamburgers. He hopes people attend one of the Veterans Day services in the area.

“A tribute to the veterans. That’s a nice idea,” Carroll said.

Then, after a moment, he adds, “But that’s not in the heads of people nowadays. They’ve got lives to live and worry about themselves.”

Carroll wasn’t worrying about himself when he joined the Coast Guard on Oct. 15, 1941, during World War II.

“That was a long time ago,” he said.

But he remembered that he worked hard and was dedicated to whatever task was handed to him.

“Once you got acquainted with the different duties, it was OK,” he said.

During the war, he was stationed in Alaska and served on the USCGC Onondaga, a cutter, on general patrol duty.

"General service," Carroll says.

He was a Gunner’s Mate, earned a promotion to Chief Gunner’s Mate, and was in charge of guns and ammunition.

After the war, he was Chief Aviation Machinist Mate and worked on helicopters and fixed-wing airplanes.

His tours of duty took him to stations at Port Angeles, Wash.; San Francisco; Oahu, Hawaii; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Salem, Mass.

When he retired in 1964 at the urging of his wife, he was ranked Top Chief in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was given a gold braid worn around his uniform coat sleeve that signified he carried a 4.0 rating, the highest one could receive, throughout his career.

“I did a good job," he said, matter of fact.

Carroll takes pride in noting he was asked not to retire, and officers even talked him out of it once.

Had he stayed in, he would have been the first Master Chief, which, looking back, he wishes he had done.

“I would have a much better retirement now,” he said, shaking his head.

But he knows he's had a good life.

Today, Carroll enjoys being with family that includes several grandchildren. He is relaxed and happy.

He looks back on his Coast Guard career with pride.

“I gave ‘em everything they asked for," he said.

And more.