Oldest Living WWII Vet Turns 111

Lawrence Brooks, who was born Sept. 12, 1909, in Norwood, Louisiana, turned 111 today.

Brooks, who was drafted at age 31, served in the U.S. Army as a black man when the armed forces were still segregated. He was a part of the Army’s 91st Engineer Battalion, which was a predominantly black unit that was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines.

After the war, Brooks worked as a forklift operator until he retired in his 70s, according to National Geographic. His descendants include five children, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.