Oldest WWII veteran receives birthday flyovers
The oldest known U.S. veteran of World War II observed coronavirus social distancing restrictions as he celebrated his 111th birthday in New Orleans.
The National WWII Museum arranged the socially distant birthday celebration for Lawrence Brooks Saturday at his home, Fox 8 New Orleans reports.
Brooks watched from his porch as the museum’s vocal trio, The Victory Belles, sang “Happy Birthday” to him from outside his gate.
He also enjoyed military plane flyovers conducted by the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team and The Big Easy Wing, according to the station.
“It is such an honor to have the oldest living U.S. veteran of World War II living so close to our institution, and it was meaningful for us to continue to celebrate Lawrence Brooks and his incredible life in a safe manner this year,” the museum’s Amber Mitchell said, according to the station.
“As we continue to lose members of The Greatest Generation, it is so important that we honor these men and women for their bravery and sacrifice while they are with us,” she said.
Brooks was born Sept. 12, 1909. He served in the predominantly African-American 91st Engineer Battalion, which was stationed in New Guinea and then the Philippines during World War II.
The Aeroshell Aerobatic Team flies T-6 Texans and The Big Easy Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (I still prefer their old name, the Confederate Air Force) fly a N2S Stearman and a 7/10ths scale flying replica of a Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber.
Source; Fox News
Category: Army, Geezer Alert!
Very cool.
Too bad it got politicized by the Left:
“Brooks spoke with National Geographic for an interview published in May in honor of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Brooks recalled being stationed with the US Army in Australia and told National Geographic that he felt he was treated more equally there compared with America at the time.
“I was treated so much better in Australia than I was by my own white people,” Brooks told National Geographic. “I wondered about that. That’s what worried me so much. Why?”
Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, 1.2 million were African Americans who were “serving the nation that treated them like second-class citizens,” as described by the National World War II Museum.
Brooks told National Geographic that he never spoke about the inequalities with fellow Black service members.
“Every time I think about it, I’d get angry, so the best thing I’d do is just leave it go,” Brooks said in the interview.
https://www.insider.com/oldest-us-world-war-ii-vet-lawrence-brooks-111-2020-9
Yep, I saw that, Slow Joe…and you are so right.
Look what the Army Times wrote. Boy, talk about trying to divide a nation. Don’t know what the Army Times is trying to prove, but frankly, I am getting sick and tired of all of this:
“A veteran of the 91st Engineer Battalion, a primarily African-American unit, Brooks served in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II as a servant to three white officers.”
https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/09/12/oldest-living-wwii-veteran-celebrates-111th-birthday/
Ah yes, the “Servant” MOS. I think we all filled that tasking at some point. Probably why they call it the “Service.”
According to his oral history at the National WWII Museum “He was a support worker for officers in his battalion, performing any task asked of him. Brooks attained the rank of Private 1st Class during the war. ”
Support worker totally equals servant, right?
“A veteran of the 91st Engineer Battalion, a primarily African-American unit…”
Who is to say that PFC Brooks was not a “servant” to Black Officers?
A shame that the Army Times had to throw in “White” Officers…talk about being racist (I am serious)…
The Army had many OUTSTANDING Black Officers…and NCOs…and Jr. Enlisted…
Just as the Drudge Report, the Army Times is going downhill. So is the Stars and Stripes.
Last week, the ninja family tried to watch “America Ninja Warrior”…as soon as we saw a contestant wearing a BLM shirt as well as ANW endorsing BLM, we switched channels and now have completely lost interest in the show.
I’m gonna say it. Biden and others blame President Trump for the riots and the division, but they have completedly forgotten what Maxine Waters preached.
I am well aware what my Black Brothers and Sisters went thru with racial division, racial discrimination, etc.etc.
LBJ, a BIGOT, signed the Civil Rights Act 56 years ago. Slavery was abolished over 150 years ago.
This is what Mr. Brooks said. He is contradicting himself. He HAS NOT let it go:
“Every time I think about it, I’d get angry, so the best thing I’d do is just leave it go,” Brooks said in the interview.”
There was another Black WWII Veteran who passed away a year ago that reached an age over 100. Jonn used to feature him on TAH.
That veteran seems so much more “mature” than Mr. Brooks on his outlook on his life.
I enjoyed reading more about his Birthday celebrations than Mr. Brooks.
BTW, I am aware of the rank structure during WW2, i.e. White Officers commanding an All Black unit.
Again, what a shame that Mr. Brooks Birthday ended up being politized, i.e. interjecting Race into his story.
So Sad.
I think a vet of 111 who lived through an era when folks with factory tinting got shitty treatment can rightly comment on it.
The treatment of US Service people of color was often shitty. I am glad we have made tremendous improvement
“,,,as a servant.” Is that the same as Dog Robber? I did some serious dog robbing a time or two during my “Service”. Not my dogs, other people’s dogs. I won’t make it to 109 years tho.
Happy Birthday Good Sir. May you have many more. It is a hell of a note that they whole RAAAAAAAYYYYCCCIIIIISSSSSS thing has to be thrown up at every turn, even a man’s Birthday Party.
I must be missing something. I believe that the USA is about the only majority caucasian country that has not only elected a supposedly black man President (twice) but has created more opportunity for Black People World Wide than any other nation out there. And the Blacks People in this country is only about 14% of the total population. Correct me if I’m wrong.
And yep, Mason, I preferred the name Confederate Air Force myself (big surprise, huh). Changing the CAF was one of the FIRST (ht 2 R-D) national attacks on all things Confederate.
Perhaps “subservient” is a better description seeing as how they want to go that route.
Here is the clown that wrote it.
hvenhuizen@militarytimes.com
The left ruins everything to push their false narrative. The fact that they need to push lie after lie in order to recruit followers should tell you all you need to know about them.
“7/10ths scale flying replica of a Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber”
If you’re going to the trouble of building a Stuka replica, why not go for 1/1 as opposed to 7/10? I would guess that has to do with the air frame that you are building the replica on being not completely the right size. That is just a guess, however. Either way, it would be pretty cool toy to have!!
“Why did you build a 22 foot boat?”
“I have a 24 foot garage.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Langhurst
Actually sounds like quite a bit more work to make the scale version than to just copy it like the Chinese and Soviets liked to do.
Could it have anything to do with the available power? Strikes me that a 7/10 scale airframe would require less motive power. Any aeronautically inclined folks able to comment?
Happy Birthday, sir!
I bet this dude could kick Commissar’s ass.
BZ!