Explorer

Oldest US veteran of WWII, Lawrence N. Brooks, dies at 112

New Orleans, Jan 5 (AP): Lawrence .

New Orleans, Jan 5 (AP): Lawrence N. Brooks, the oldest World War II veteran in the U.S. — and believed to be the oldest man in the country — died on Wednesday at the age of 112.

His death was announced by the National World War II Museum and confirmed by his daughter.

Brooks, born on Sept. 12, 1909, was known for his good-natured sense of humor, positivity and kindness. When asked for his secret to a long life, he often said, “serving God and being nice to people.” “I don't have no hard feelings toward nobody," he said during a 2014 oral history interview with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. "I just want everything to be lovely, to come out right. I want people to have fun and enjoy themselves — be happy and not sad.” On sunny days, Brooks was known for sitting on the front porch of the double shotgun house he shared with daughter Vaness Brooks in the Central City neighborhood of New Orleans. Neighbors would call out to the local celebrity, wave and bring him soda and snacks.

Brooks was passionate about the New Orleans Saints football team and never missed a game, his daughter said. His church, St. Luke's Episcopal, was also close to his heart and he never missed a Sunday service until the coronavirus pandemic hit.

Originally from Norwood, Louisiana, near Baton Rouge, Brooks' family moved to the Mississippi Delta when he was an infant. He was one of 15 children. He said lived too far from the nearest school for him to attend, so his parents taught him what they could at home.

Brooks was working at a sawmill when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1940. After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to the mostly Black 91st Engineer General Service Regiment stationed in Australia.

Most African Americans serving in the segregated U.S. armed forces at the beginning of World War II were assigned to noncombat units and relegated to service duties, such as supply, maintenance and transportation, said Col. Pete Crean, vice president of education and access at the National WWII Museum.

“The reason for that was outright racism — there's no other way to characterize it,” Crean said. (AP) AMS AMS

(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Maharashtra Elections: With 50 Rebels In Fray, Can Mahayuti And Maha Vikas Aghadi Contain The Dissent?
Maharashtra Elections: With 50 Rebels In Fray, Can Mahayuti And Maha Vikas Aghadi Contain The Dissent?
India Confirms Meeting Between India, Canada Intel Officials, But Maintains No Evidence Shared On Nijjar Case
India Confirms Meeting Between India, Canada Intel Officials, But Maintains No Evidence Shared On Nijjar Case
Jharkhand Elections: INDIA Bloc Arrives At Seat-Sharing Agreement For Assembly Polls, Friendly Fight In 3 Seats
INDIA Bloc Arrives At Seat-Sharing Agreement For Jharkhand Polls, Friendly Fight In 3 Seats
Pawar Family Hosts Separate Diwali Events For 1st Time As Ajit, Sharad Gear Up For Maharashtra Polls
Pawar Power Split: Pawar Family Hosts Two Diwalis For 1st Time As Ajit, Sharad Gear Up For Polls
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Maharashtra Election: If Numbers Are Needed, Who Will You Choose? Devendra Fadnavis Makes a 'Prediction'Maharashtra Election: Listen to Raj Thackeray's Take On Who Will Be Maharashtra's Next CM | Raj Thackeray ExclusiveMaharashtra Election: Ajit Pawar Speaks Out on Allegations of Collusion with Sharad Pawar | Ajit Pawar ExclusiveChirag Paswan Exclusive Interview: Responds with Laughter on Marriage, Uncle, Nitish & PM Modi | ABP LIVE

Photo Gallery

Embed widget