Gary Sinise paid tribute to Lawrence Brooks, the longest The Second World War veteran who died Wednesday at the age of 112.
Sinise took to her Twitter account with a reaction to Brooks’ death.
“An American hero passed away this morning. Lawrence Brooks, the oldest WWII veteran at 112. Here we are at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans when he was 106 years old ”, Sinise wrote accompanied by a photo of their meeting.
“He certainly had an incredibly long life. God bless you sir. An honor to know you. Rest in peace, ”added Sinise.
THE GARY SINISE FOUNDATION PROVIDES “FOREVER HOUSES” WITHOUT MORTGAGE TO INJURED VETERANS
Brooks’ daughter Vanessa Brooks, who was also caring for him, confirmed his death at Military Time. She said he had been traveling back and forth to New Orelans VA hospital in recent months, but was able to enjoy the vacation.
Born in Norwood, Louisiana, in 1909, Brooks has lived in New Orleans since 1929. Enlisted in 1940, he was a Private in the Army’s 91st Mainly Black Engineer Battalion, a unit stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines and who built the infrastructure. like bridges, roads and airstrips.
Brooks celebrated his 112th birthday in September with a drive-through party at his New Orleans home hosted by the National World War II Museum, The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate reported. He also received greetings from Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, who tweeted, “Mr. Brooks, the whole state of Louisiana thanks you for your service and we wish you all a happy birthday. “
EDDIE VAN HALEN’S EX VALERIE BERTINELLI SHARES TAKING WORDS SHE SAID TO THE MUSICIAN BEFORE HIS DEATH
The museum has previously hosted parties for Brooks, although the coronavirus The pandemic has turned these events into driving celebrations over the past two years.
In this September 12, 2019 file photo, World War II veteran Lawrence Brooks celebrates his 110th birthday at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
(Photo AP/Gerald Herbert)
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In an oral history on his service posted on YouTube, Brooks described how he was delivering a load of barbed wire to the front when one of the engines on the C-47 he was traveling in went extinct.
After throwing in the barbed wire to save weight, he made his way to the cockpit. He told the pilot and co-pilot that since they were the only two with parachutes, if they had to jump on them, he was going to hang on to one of them.
“We did it,” he laughed. “We had a good laugh about it. “
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Sinise, 66, is known for his advocacy work on behalf of the US military. He founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011 to “serve and honor America’s Advocates, Veterans, First Responders, Gold Star families and those in need,” the website States.
World War II veteran Lawrence Brooks holds a photo of himself taken in 1943 as he celebrated his 110th birthday at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on Thursday, September 12, 2019.
(Photo AP/Gerald Herbert)
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The foundation offers a variety of programs to give back to veterans and honor their legacy of service.
The actor, known for his performance as Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump,” joined ” Fox News in prime time ” to Veterans day share the impact of providing wounded veterans their “forever homes”.
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World War II veteran Lawrence Brooks receives an identity plaque during his 110th birthday celebration at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
(Photo AP/Gerald Herbert)
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“Life can be very, very difficult for someone in a wheelchair, someone who has lost a limb, someone with severe burns or a head injury, or blindness or whatever their particular challenges. It can be very, very difficult just trying to function in an apartment or a small house that is not built for someone with physical challenges like that. So what we’re trying to do is provide whatever you can think of that would help make the life of the veteran and the family more independent; to have the service member be more independent, ”he explained at the time.
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