Latest News USA: Oldest Living American World War II Veteran Celebrates 110th Birthday
The oldest living American World War II veteran identified as Lawrence Brooks, celebrated his 110th birthday on Thursday at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Family, veterans, and current military service members celebrated alongside him. They had cupcakes and a musical performance by the Victory Belles trio to help make the event colourful. The supercentenarian is a father to five children and five step-children.
Brooks who was born in 1909, served as a support worker in the Army’s 91st Engineer Battalion, a majority African-American unit stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines during the war. He reached the rank of private first class. He was the servant to thee white officers in the battalion, the museum said in a press release.
PHOTO CREDIT – WREG NEWS
Brooks recounted a story of riding in a C-47 cargo plane from Australia to New Guinea in an interview with the museum. He said that the plane was loaded down with barbed wire but “one of the motors went out on it”.
Those aboard the plane wanted to lighten it so they threw much of the cargo into the ocean. Brooks threw the boxes out of the plane like his life depended on it as there were only enough parachutes on the plane for the pilot and the co-pilot.
According to Brooks, he joked to the aircraft’s pilot: “If he’s going to jump, I’m going to grab him.”
Thankfully, he didn’t have to resort to drastic measures.
“It was a scary moment,” he said. “But we made it.”
Gustav Gerneth, who fought on the German side in the war and was captured as a Russian prisoner of war, is believed to be the oldest living WWII vet at 113 years old.
In a statement, National World War II Museum CEO Stephen Watson said that Brooks’ life and service was filled with the kinds of “stories of bravery and determination” that the museum exists to celebrate.
Click Amebo Book for more headlines today USA.
