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Revision as of 01:09, 6 January 2022

Lawrence Brooks
File:Lawrence Brooks.png
Born(1909-09-12)September 12, 1909
Norwood, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJanuary 5, 2022(2022-01-05) (aged 112)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1940–1945
RankPrivate First Class
Unit91st Engineer Battalion
Battles / warsWorld War II
Military photo

Lawrence Brooks (September 12, 1909 – January 5, 2022) was an American veteran of the United States Army and, at one point, the oldest living man in the United States. A supercentenarian from New Orleans, Louisiana, he was the oldest known American World War II veteran.

Early life

Brooks was born on September 12, 1909. He grew up in Norwood, Louisiana, and had 14 siblings. When he was an infant, the family moved to several cities closer to the Mississippi Delta, but was raised primarily in the small town of Stephenson, Mississippi.[1] He did not go to school, because he was too far away from the nearest school to attend, so he was homeschooled.[2][3]

Military service

Brooks was drafted into the army in 1940, when he was 31. At the time, he was employed at a sawmill.[2][3] He was discharged in 1941, after a year of mandatory service, but he rejoined the army after the attack on Pearl Harbor.[1] He served in the 91st Engineer Battalion in the United States Army in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II.[2] He was a soldier in the Pacific Theatre from 1941 to 1945.[2] He reached the rank of Private First Class.[4]

Brooks's unit, an engineering corps, was tasked mainly with constructing infrastructure.[2] However, during the Jim Crow-era the army was segregated during Brooks's service, and he was responsible for assisting white officers with daily tasks.[2]

During a posting in Australia, Brooks noted that he was treated better by the white people there than in the United States in the decades before the Civil Rights movement.[2]

Later life

After his military service, Brooks worked as a forklift operator in New Orleans until his retirement, and he had five children. His wife, Leona, died shortly after Hurricane Katrina. In the mid-2010s, The National WWII Museum began to host an annual birthday party for Brooks. In 2020, this celebration included a flyover of World War II aircraft over Brooks's house, with the museum's "Victory Belles", a trio of singers performing songs predominately from the 1940s era. The city of New Orleans also recognized Brooks' birthday with an official proclamation.[3][5][6]

Death

He died on January 5, 2022, in his New Orleans home, at the age of 112. His daughter, Vanessa Brooks, confirmed his death to the Military Times, hours later. She said that he had been back and forth to the New Orleans VA Hospital in recent months.[7][8] After his death, actor Gary Sinise uploaded a Tweet, where he paid tribute.[8] Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards also made a Tweet about it, saying "I am sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Lawrence Brooks, America’s oldest World War II veteran and a proud Louisianan".[9] President Joe Biden referred to Brooks as "truly the best of America".[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Froeba, Kristine (January 5, 2022). "Oldest US World War II veteran dies at 112 in New Orleans". Army Times. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Brasted, Chelsea (May 11, 2020). "America's oldest living WWII veteran faced hostility abroad—and at home". National Geographic. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Nation's oldest living WWII veteran, Lawrence Brooks, dies at the age of 112". Associated Press. January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  4. ^ Murray, Kelly; Jones, Kay (September 12, 2020). "America's oldest World War II veteran celebrates his 111th birthday". CNN. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  5. ^ writer, CARLIE KOLLATH WELLS | Staff. "Lawrence Brooks, oldest living WWII veteran in U.S., dies at 112 in New Orleans". NOLA.com. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "110th Birthday Celebration for WWII Veteran Lawrence Brooks". The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Oldest US World War II veteran dies at 112 in New Orleans". Marine Corps Times. January 5, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Roberto, Melissa (January 5, 2022). "Gary Sinise pays tribute to oldest WWII veteran Lawrence Brooks following his death: 'An American hero'". Fox News. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  9. ^ "Lawrence Brooks, oldest U.S. veteran of WWII, dies at 112". NBC News. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Lawrence Brooks, Oldest Surviving U.S. Veteran Who Served in World War Two, Dies". usnews.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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