America’s Oldest World War II Veteran Receives Flyover for 111th Birthday

America’s oldest World War II veteran received a military flyover for his 111th birthday on Saturday as the coronavirus changed plans for a more traditional birthday celebration.

Last year, New Orleans native and World War II veteran Lawrence Brooks received cupcakes, music, and lots of kisses at the National WWII Museum as the facility hosted him for a birthday party for the fifth year in a row.

This year, the celebration came to him because of the coronavirus pandemic, as he watched from his porch while an entire squadron of WWII-era aircraft did a flyover in his neighborhood, the Times-Picayune reported.

Lawrence Brooks (PFC, USA, ret) served in the predominantly African American 91st Engineer Battalion, which was stationed in New Guinea and then the Philippines during World War II. I'd like to send him some "Black Rifle Coffee", born 1909 and he only looks to be in his 80s!

May God bless you, Mr. Brooks, and all of those still remaining from your generation who are responsible for the freedom that we still enjoy!

One of my grandfathers served, and would now be 113; several great uncles did also, and would be in their late ‘90s to about 110; many cousins of my grandparents also served (in fact, every single one who was of age to do so served). The pity is that the greatest thief - Time - has stolen all of them from us except a very few. Despite them being gone, however, we can never forget what they did - or the reasons why. That’s the job of the schools, and of the parents and grandparents of each generation. If we fail, then we will have failed the Greatest Generation, and we won’t be worthy of their great sacrifices.

Vote, people, VOTE! That’s what is most important right now - to keep those who would destroy our history and replace it with whatever served their narrow political interests of the moment. Those doing so are attempting to do to this country in a smarter, seemingly more peaceful way, what the Germans and Japanese tried to do to this country - destroy our Republic and our liberties. We cannot let that happen - not to ourselves, not to our children and grandchildren, and not to fail the veterans of WW2, living or dead, who sacrificed years of their lives, bled for us, lost limbs for us or died for us.

“Lawrence Brooks (PFC, USA, ret) served in the predominantly African American 91st Engineer Battalion, which was stationed in New Guinea....”

One of my great uncles was stationed on New Guinea for most of the duration of the war as a sniper. Not that it really matters, but out of sheer curiosity I wonder if they ever had the opportunity to meet.

Not that it really matters, but out of sheer curiosity I wonder if they ever had the opportunity to meet.

My dad lived to 95 but was so reticent about his wartime in Europe (45th Infantry Division "Thunderbirds") that I could never ask all of the questions that plague me still. Almost all of them are gone or near going and like other wars, they take so much with them!

New Guinea, by all accounts was a hellish battle zone and my respects to PFC Brooks and your uncle and all who had to be there! SALUTE!

My father had 7 brothers. One was too sickly to serve. One was too young.

One was in the Merchant Marine hauling supplies to Europe. He died of TB the last year of WW-II.
Four including my dad were Army during that war. A younger one served in Korea.
My dad went ashore at Normandy. My dad was WIA in Belgium with General Patton's Army.

They are all gone now.

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