Nation’s Oldest Living World War II Veteran Celebrates 112th Birthday

The nation’s oldest living World War II veteran was honored on a very special day.

Lawrence Brooks, a veteran and native of Louisiana celebrated his 112th birthday on Sunday.  To mark the day, he was given his very own parade outside his home in Central City.

Residents gathered in cars to wish him a happy birthday as a part of the drive-by party. The event was hosted by the National War II Museum.

“If you ask Mr. Brooks, ‘Why have you lived so long?,’ He says his motto is, be good to people,” Peter Crean, Vice President of Education and Access at the National WWII Museum, told Fox 61.

But the parade was far from dull. It featured Jeeps, a live performance from the museum vocal trio and entertainment from New Orleans musicians. The city also recognized Brooks’ birthday with an official proclamation.

Brooks’ dedication and sacrifice has been celebrated at the National War II Museum previously. However, the coronavirus pandemic caused organizers to shift to a drive-by celebration for the last two years.

Lawrence was celebrated by many including Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who tweeted, “Mr. Brooks, the entire state of Louisiana thanks you for your service and we all wish you a joyous birthday.”

Brooks grew up in Norwood, Louisiana and served in the Army between 1940 and 1945 with the predominately Black 91st Engineering Battalion, a unit that was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines that built infrastructure such as bridges, roads and airstrips.

Brooks was never directly involved in combat, but in a recorded oral history for the National World War II museum, he recalled a dangerous moment when  his C-47 cargo plane’s engine failed while he was transporting wire from Australia to New Guinea.