Brooklyn Center WWII Veteran Celebrates 103rd Birthday With National Guard
Less than one percent of the 16.4 million Americans that served in the Second World War are still alive today, according to the National WWII Museum.
That means there’s about 45,418 remaining World War II veterans — and one of them, who lives in Brooklyn Center, celebrated a landmark birthday with the Minnesota National Guard.
Don Halverson turns 103 years old on Feb. 24.
“I just enjoy each day, no guarantee on tomorrow,” he told reporters a day before his birthday.
He served as a member of the 34th Infantry “Red Bull” Division during World War II, leading a platoon of soldiers north from Naples, Italy to the border with Switzerland.
Halverson was just 20 years old when he joined the Army in 1943.
He nearly died in a battle near Anzio when an explosive shell landed just in front of him.
“We ducked down in these trenches that they had — they dug them years ago to keep [from] flooding the crops,” he said. “So that’s where we lived for four months in those ditches. This one [shell] came just a few yards in front of us and I feel the ground push up. It ended up a dud or I wouldn’t be here today.”
A young Don Halverson poses for a photo. He celebrated his 103rd birthday with the 34th Infantry Division on Monday.
Halverson was awarded the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Unit Badge and he Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his service.
After the war, he got married and bought a home in Brooklyn Center. He still lives there today.
Likewise, he just renewed his driver’s license.
“I’ve got an old Toyota,” he said. “I figure it will last me until I kick the bucket.”
Halverson credits his decision to quit smoking after the war for his long life.
To celebrate his birthday, the Minnesota State Patrol hosted Halverson for cake at the 34th Infantry Division “Red Bull” headquarters in Arden Hills.
“I figure they got me through World War II without getting hit — I’ve got to hang with them,” Halverson said.
Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Sharkey, commanding General of the Army’s 34th Infantry Division, said young soldiers who haven’t deployed overseas could benefit from hearing Halverson speak.
“And to hear stories from Don, what they had to endure during World War II, specifically in Italy — Heaven forbid our division see another day like that,” Sharkey said. “But it’s a good reminder to our current serving soldiers that service does come with sacrifice.”
Related: Brooklyn Center WWII Vet Gets Fire Truck Procession for 101st Birthday
