100-year-old WWII veteran reflects on being drafted in 1943 at Fort Jackson
Inside the doors of Brookdale Harbison assisted living is where you will find 100-year-old WWII veteran Rupert Sutphin telling war stories to anyone who will listen.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – Inside the doors of Brookdale Harbison assisted living is where you will find 100-year-old WWII veteran Rupert Sutphin telling war stories to anyone who will listen. He often begins with the day Japan attacked the United States.
“We heard the announcement on the radio,” said Sutphin.
Sutphin was drafted into the service in 1943 at Fort Jackson. He says during his examination he had hopes of being assigned to the U.S. Air Force.
“He looked around and said ‘Will the air force be alright?’. I felt like jumping to the ceiling ya know but I just held myself for a minute and I said ‘That will be just fine.’ My friend was coming up in the line and he saw me. He hollered ‘What branch did you get?’ I said ‘the air force!’ And I jumped way up in the air,” said Sutphin.
Sutphin says during his time at basic training he was surrounded by similar men who were fresh out of high school.
“I got my first haircut, army GI haircut. They cut it all off,” said Sutphin.
In 1944 he was deployed overseas and return to the United States in the spring of 1946. He recalls an unpleasant welcoming as many Americans were not fans of the war. “They treat them a whole lot nicer than they use to. We’ve been recognized since the war. Finally they’d come out and decided we done the right thing I reckon. At least we feel like we did, we know we did. if you were over there getting shot at you know you did.”
Next month Sutphin will be 101-years-old. He says he has no regrets in a life that gave him a long wonderful marriage and five children. Yet, he isn’t done, he says his last mission is sharing wisdom to those desiring a long life.
“Not dying! No, I’d say the secret is just keep believing. Keep believing there is a Lord up ahead and as long as you believe in that, wait on Him and He will tell you when to go. It’s getting close to time. I keep thinking Lord today or tomorrow? I mean . . I’m just saying this but I know it’s getting close,“ said Sutphin.
