Lawrence Brooks—who died today at 112 years old—was proud of his military service, even though his memories of it were complicated
Brooks is proud of his military service, even though his memories of it are complicated. Black soldiers fighting in the war could not escape the racism, discrimination, and hostility at home.
Rob Citino, Senior Historian at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, says the U.S. military then had “racist characterizations” of African-American soldiers during the war. Of the 16 million Americans who donned a military uniform, 1.2 million were African Americans who were “often being treated as second-class citizens at home,” Citino says.
“My mother and father always raised me to love people, and I don’t care what kind of people they are,” he says. “And you mean to tell me, I get up on these people and I got to go kill them? Oh, no, I don’t know how that’s going to work out.” Brooks says he was treated “better” by white Americans when he returned from the war, but it would take nearly two decades before theThe father of five children, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great grandchildren, Brooks worked for many years as a forklift operator before retiring in his seventies. For years he avoided discussing his experiences in the war, sharing little of his story with his children as they grew up.
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Lawrence Brooks, Oldest American World War II Vet, Dies At 112Lawrence N. Brooks, the oldest World War II veteran in the United States, has died at the age of 112.
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Oldest US veteran of WWII, Lawrence N. Brooks, dies at 112 | AP NewsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Lawrence N. Brooks, the oldest World War II veteran in the U.S. — and believed to be the oldest man in the country — died on Wednesday at the age of 112. His death was announced by the National WWII Museum and confirmed by his daughter.
Read more »
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Read more »