WWII Veteran celebrates his 101st birthday
LEXINGTON, SC (WOLO) — World War II Veteran Bruce Cook turned 101 years old on Wednesday.
To honor the retired Staff Sergeant, the staff at Cola Wealth Advisors in Lexington gifted him with a cake, balloons, and handwritten cards.
After singing “Happy Birthday” to him, they also presented Cook with original “Courier Journal” and “Wall Street Journal” newspapers from 1925.
“This is beyond amazing, I don’t see why people take the time to do things like this, and I can’t hardly understand why people do this for me, but it really makes me feel good!” says Cook.
For others, it’s not hard to understand why Cook is so special.
This past April, the Swansea native was awarded the Legion of Honor and knighted by the French government for successfully flying 35 missions over France as a ball-turret gunner during WWII — becoming Sir Bruce Cook.
“Well, I’ve seen so many things change, and I have really enjoyed life. I have always thought of myself as kind of a happy person, and it’s great to enjoy life as much as I do, so I thank the Lord for that,” he says.
Combat Veteran Rick Mantei with Cola Wealth Advisors says he met Cook last year at a Veterans event.
“And so we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well since then. And I’m just inspired by his whole life, by the way he’s raised his family, by his actions during the war, and you won’t find a finer fellow than him. He epitomizes the greatest generation. He does. He’s the best,” says Mantei.
“I never thought I’d make it this old, but it’s just great. The Lord’s been good to me, so me being able to get around like this now. It’s just great,” says Cook.
