The oldest living WWII veteran, now 112, wants to be remembered as a ‘good soldier’
By Kristine Froeba
Thursday, Nov 11
Lawrence Brooks seeing his replacement summer service uniform and holding his 91st Engineer Battalion badge for the first time at the New Orleans VA hospital on Oct. 29, 2021. (Vanessa Brooks)
Louisiana’s Lawrence Brooks, aged 112, smiled as his daughter, Vanessa, tenderly placed his new garrison cap on his head in the ICU bed. She says it’s what her father, the world’s oldest living World War II veteran, wanted most — a new Army uniform to replace the original he’d lost 16 years ago in Hurricane Katrina.
Brooks was presented with an authentic reproduction WWII uniform and his old unit’s badge during a recent short stay in the New Orleans VA hospital at the beginning of November. Brooks’ health is declining rapidly and he is adamant about spending his remaining days at his home with family. God-willing, he says he plans to wear his khakis this Veterans Day.
“This is it,” said Brooks. “This is the uniform I wore in Australia.”
https://www.militarytimes.com/military-honor/salute-veterans/2021/11/11/the-oldest-living-wwii-veteran-now-112-wants-to-be-remembered-as-a-good-soldier/
