Oldest US World War II veteran dies at 112 in New Orleans

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Wed Jan 5, 2022, 04:10 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Army Times

Oldest US World War II veteran dies at 112 in New Orleans

By Kristine Froeba * Jan 5, 11:20 AM

Lawrence Brooks, the United States’ oldest living World War II veteran, died Wednesday morning, according to his daughter and caregiver, Vanessa Brooks. ... The supercentenarian’s health was winding down, Vanessa Brooks confirmed to Military Times, and he was in and out of the local veterans’ hospital several times in recent months ― but he was still alert, enjoying the holidays and watching his beloved Saints play until the end.

{snip}

For his 112th birthday in September 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration was brought to his house in the form of a drive-by party. ... Brooks had danced on his porch, serenaded by the museum’s singing trio, the Victory Belles, while a military flyover banked down his Central City New Orleans shotgun house.

{snip}

Brooks had recently requested a new U.S. Army uniform to replace the original he’d lost sixteen years ago in Hurricane Katrina. ... He was presented with an authentic reproduction World War II uniform and his old unit’s badge during a recent short stay in the New Orleans VA hospital at the beginning of November.

{snip}

His daughter recently gave several interviews lamenting how Black World War II veterans, including her father, were denied GI Bill benefits. She says he often spoke of how much he wanted to go to school after the war.

“My father earned the Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Presidential Unit Medal, then he was left behind,” said Vanessa Brooks. “He served the same five years. He was bombed and strafed in the South Pacific but was not offered a low-interest bank loan, a reduced down payment for a house, or an education.”

She says she plans to bury her father wearing his new uniform, as he requested.

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Kristine Froeba is a freelance writer based in New Orleans. She was involved in helping locate and raise funds for Lawrence Brooks’ new uniform.

Read more: https://www.armytimes.com/military-honor/salute-veterans/2022/01/05/oldest-us-world-war-ii-veteran-dies-at-112-in-new-orleans/

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Hat tip, the 2:00 p.m. CBS radio news

[Achilleaze]

1. My parents both served in WW II. They were not "suckers" and "losers"

as the Republican "leader" has called them and hundreds of thousands of other American citizens who did their duty and defended their nation.

[Sherman A1]

2. RIP

[ColinC]

3. Dang he was in his 30s in ww2!

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Here he was watching his 112th birthday parade in September

along with his WW2 pic -



R.I.P. and thank you for your service sir.

[3Hotdogs]

9. Damn. I hope I look that good

when I reach 112.

[FakeNoose]

5. RIP Lawrence Brooks

Thank you for your service, sir!

[underpants]

6. 🕯

[marybourg]

7. His lack of access to WWII GI benefits may more down to

local Jim Crow than to the U.S.itself, not that the U.S. was blameless. But my recently late DH was a black WWII Navy vet. He did avail himself of GI Bill educational benefits on L. I., NY, right after the war, and later bought a house with a G.I. Bill mortgage loan. The loan came through a bank on L.I, NY, which hassled him when they found out he was black, but he did get his mortgage loan in the end.

[sarge43]

8. Peaceful passage Soldier and thank you

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. To use an overused phrase that's relevant this time

Thank you for your service.