Lawrence Brooks, born September 12, 1909, was the oldest living WWII veteran in the US. He died the morning of January 5, 2022 in New Orleans, People reports .
Brooks served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was a member of the primarily African American division, the 91st Engineer Division, being drafted into the war at age 31.
After the war, he worked in New Orleans as a forklift driver.
Brooks retired in 1979, People reports.
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There were many people who paid tribute to Brooks after hearing about his passing.
Notable figures including actor Gary Sinise and President Joe Biden took to social media to honor the veteran’s life.
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans also released a statement about Brooks’ death.
“The entire National WWII Museum team mourns the loss of Brooks and remembers him fondly,” they write . “We extend our deepest sympathies to his friends and family, and are honored to have his oral history in our collection as a permanent tribute to his service.”
The museum had been hosting his birthday parties since 2014 – his 105th.
In both 2020 and 2021, the museum helped Brooks celebrate his 111th and 112th birthdays through socially-distanced Jeep parades.
In fact, people all around the world took part in Brooks’ birthday celebrations.
“In 2020, the Museum launched a birthday card drive for him that generated an outpouring of affection, with Brooks receiving over 21,500 cards from all 50 states and nearly 30 countries,” the museum states.
It’s clear that he’s had an impact on us all.
As the National WWII Museum states, his passing acts as a reminder of the importance of preserving the “stories of the men and women who served in World War II for future generations.”
Above all else, though, he taught us kindness.
The museum states, “Over the years, Brooks was asked countless times for advice and the secret to his longevity, and his answer remained consistent: ‘be nice to people.'”
He will be missed.
Brooks is survived by 4 children, 11 grand children, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, the museum reports.
h/t People , National WWII Museum .
