The supercentenarian was drafted and entered the army in 1940, serving in both Louisiana and Texas. His birth year was mistakenly calculated as 1910. Lawrence Brooks' original draft card from 1940. Stewart, the army’s former chief of military history, the battalion was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for service in Papua and the Meritorious Unit Commendation in the Asiatic-Pacific theater. He also held the insignia from the 91st Engineer Battalion, the predominantly African American unit in which Brooks served in Australia, Papua, and the Philippines.īrooks says he has never forgotten his unit’s motto, and repeats it aloud, “acts, not words.” For historians, the battalion was re-designated the 91st Engineer General Service Regiment late in the summer of 1942. 4, smiling and fondling his cap before placing it on his head. He was back at his house in New Orleans on Nov. 4, 2021 (Kristine Froeba)īrooks immediately recognized the components of the summer service uniform he wore while serving in the Pacific theater. Lawrence Brooks, aged 112, holding his 91st Engineer Battalion pin and wearing his WWII reproduction summer service uniform, at home in New Orleans, Nov.
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