Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2019 record photo, World War II seasoned Lawrence Brooks holds a photograph of him taken successful 1943, arsenic helium celebrates his 110th day astatine the National World War II Museum successful New Orleans. Brooks celebrated his 112th birthday, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 with a drive-by enactment astatine his New Orleans location hosted by the National War War II Museum. Drafted successful 1940, Brooks was a backstage successful the Armys mostly Black 91st Engineer Battalion. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

NEW ORLEANS – A Louisiana antheral who is the oldest surviving World War II seasoned successful the United States has marked his 112th birthday.

Lawrence Brooks celebrated Sunday with a drive-by enactment astatine his New Orleans location hosted by the National World War II Museum, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported. He besides received greetings from Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who tweeted, “Mr. Brooks, the full authorities of Louisiana acknowledgment you for your work and we each privation you a joyous birthday.”

The depository has antecedently hosted parties for Brooks, though the coronavirus pandemic has caused those events to displacement to drive-by celebrations for the past 2 years.

This year’s festivities included a Jeep parade, a unrecorded show from the depository vocal trio and amusement from New Orleans musicians. The metropolis besides recognized Brooks’ day with an authoritative proclamation.

Ad

Born successful Norwood, Louisiana, successful 1909, Brooks has lived successful New Orleans since 1929. Drafted successful 1940, helium was a backstage successful the Army’s mostly Black 91st Engineer Battalion, a portion that was stationed successful New Guinea and the Philippines and built infrastructure specified arsenic bridges, roads and airstrips.

In an oral past astir his service posted connected YouTube, Brooks besides described however helium was delivering a load of barbed ligament to the beforehand erstwhile 1 of the engines of the C-47 helium was traveling successful went out.

After they dumped the barbed ligament to conserve weight, helium made his mode to the cockpit. He told the aviator and co-pilot that since they were the lone 2 with parachutes, if they had to leap for it, helium was going to drawback connected to 1 of them.

“We made it though,” helium said laughing. “We had a large laughter astir that.”

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.