The oldest living World War II veteran has celebrated another trip around the sun — his 112th, to be exact.
Lawrence Brooks was feted Sunday with birthday drive-by at his home in New Orleans, with video showing the bespectacled vet wearing a mask and Saints jersey and waving to the small crowd.
He advised others to “serve God and be nice to people,” according to WDSU.
Born on Sept. 12, 1909, Brook served in the US Army from 1940 to 1945 as part of the predominantly African-American 91st Engineer Battalion. He was stationed in New Guinea followed by the Philippines and rose to the rank of private first class during the war.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards tweeted a photo with the vet on Sunday thanking him for his service on Sunday where he can be seen in a mask standing and looking healthy.
A flyover of WWII-era aircraft was organized for Brooks’ birthday last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to WPXI.
After his 110th birthday, his daughter, Vanessa Brooks told NOLA.com that her father is blind in his right eye and his vision is failing in his left, but that his hearing is remarkable and he’s never had heart problems, cancer or any other major illness — aside from low blood pressure and dehydration.
At that celebration, he was treated to songs — and kisses — from National WWII Museum in New Orleans’ vocal trio, the Victory Belles.
According to the Veterans Affairs, which confirmed he is America’s oldest living veteran, Brooks was drafted by the Army in 1940. He trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, and was honorably discharged in November 1941.
However, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Brooks was called back for service.
After the war, he returned home to New Orleans where he worked operating a forklift. He married and had five kids, and now has 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
He was widowed in 2005 when his second wife, Leona, died shortly after the couple was evacuated in a helicopter in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The birthday event on Sunday was organized by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
