Posted on 02/14/2020 11:47:43 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
A 104-year-old United States Marine veteran who has never celebrated Valentine’s Day before has been left dumbfounded by a sudden deluge of love letters pouring into his mailbox.
William White—‘Major Bill’ as he is now known to the internet—was awarded a Purple Heart after he fought at Iwo Jima during World War II, and he served a total of 35 years active duty. He now lives at an assisted living facility in Stockton, California where he is a beloved member of the retirement community.
One of his admirers, a fellow resident, launched a social media campaign called “Operation Valentine” recruiting friends, family members, and strangers to send Valentine’s Day cards to White, hoping to get 100 mailed.
Even when White’s wife of 42 years was alive, he says they never exchanged cards or celebrated the Hallmark holiday.
So imagine his surprise when he was flooded with more than 70,000 love letters, greeting cards, and well wishes from all 50 states and several foreign countries.
“It’s just too fantastic,” White told Reuters. “It’s something I’ve never heard of or seen. All of a sudden here, like a ton of bricks. I’m sort of speechless.”
on the glen beck site it said over 200,000 cards
There are days when I get into a "people suck" mind set and it is good to have the reminder that as a species we can be pretty awesome too.
God bless him!
Semper Fi, ‘Major Bill’
I heard this on Freerepublic and sent him my stock of vintage Valentines. Many of which were unsigned for him to share. It has been a great story to follow.
It could be by now, this is two days ago...
He was interviewed by Martha McCallum last night. This guy is sharp as a tack, honestly, one of the sharpest “ordinary” people I’ve seen interviewed on TV.
104, absolutely incredible, insanely old. I mean think about it: They say the earliest memory for most people is when they were 3 or 4. This guy if his memory is still OK, can remember back 100 years, remember back when prohibition started, remember back TWENTY years before WW2!
a treasure trove of information.
I sent Major Bill a non-mushy Valentine’s Day card....a Dalmatian with a red background.
Wow, that last shot of him sitting by himself in the room wearing his uniform, whew...Semper Fi Marine
....I believe on Ms. MacCallum’s show, the figure
of some 200,000 cards. etc. received was given....
I sent him a card with a “purple heart” stamp. I’m glad he’s happy...Semper Fi!
I sent him one.
I bought those stamps too, as soon as I saw them!
I sent him a ‘Vintage’ style Valentine. So glad to be a part of this. :)
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