Minnesota World War II veteran turns 102, honored by fellow soldiers
Many of the soldiers on the front lines in World War II are no longer with us. But one of those veterans, born and raised in south Minneapolis, turned 102 on Feb. 24.
Technical Sergeant Don Halverson celebrated the rare birthday with his fellow soldiers on Monday at the Red Bull 34th Infantry Division in Arden Hills.
Halverson still remembers his time fighting in the war with the Red Bulls in Italy in the early 1940s. His team spent the most consecutive days in combat than any other unit in the army — a record that still holds today.
While many of Halverson's friends died in the war, he says he feels lucky he returned home to Minnesota.
"Someone upstairs was looking after me. [I ended up] with a bullet hole through my canteen, cut up my bed full of shrapnel, cut my shoes, but never touched my body," said Halverson.
Since being back home, Halverson often spends time with his fellow Red Bull soldiers and supports them in their efforts. So they felt it fitting to surprise him with a huge honor on his 102nd birthday by knighting him with the Order of St. George Bronze Medallion.
"I didn't expect it, but nice to get it," said Halverson.
At 102, Halverson still has his sense of humor. He used the sword he was knighted with to cut his cake and share it amongst his comrads.
For the soldiers in this room for his birthday celebration, Halverson is not only a war survivor, but also someone they look up to.
"To see him helps us remember where we came from and the high level of expectations that are required from us that we have to achieve, because we don't want to let Don or his generation down," said Lieutenant Colonel Peter Rampaart, 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry Commander with the Minnesota National Guard.
"[I'm] darn lucky. You got to enjoy each day because there's no guarantee on tomorrow," said Halverson.
Halverson and his late wife, Bernice, were married for 62 years before she passed. They had three kids together.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Would this be the last letter he would write?
The sun was setting in England on June 10, 1944. Back home, it was still afternoon. He was sitting in the cab of his deuce-and-a-half — a 2.5 ton Army truck, ready to roll onto a ship that would take him and other truckers across 435 miles of the English channel to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. Some 2,400 Americans had already been killed, wounded or reported missing on that beach in the four days since June 6. And now, he was on his way. It was the fifth anniversary of the day he and the girl he loved had eloped 'Girl' was right. She was 17. He was 21. And now, they — like so many other couples — were so far apart. So, as he waited to roll onto the ship, he started to write a letter home. He must have wondered if it would be the last he would ever write. 'Dearest Darling Wife: Hello, Honey, how are you by now? I feel better already. Just as I started, they came in. I mean the mail. Ha! Ha! I got three regular letters and a V-mail from you. I got my anniversary card yesterday and a V-mail from you. Sure was glad to get them. It was on time too and so cute.' He added, 'I am reading over your letters and I wanted to write you some more today of all days. This is one anniversary I will remember a long time. From the looks of things, now maybe I will get to be with you the next one and I hope a lot sooner. I guess you are worried about me, but no need of that, Honey. It won't do any good. I guess maybe you will start getting mail now that the big push is underway.' After crossing the channel, the trucks rolled off the ship into the water. They couldn't get all the way to the beach. Several trucks stalled in the water. But his made it. His next letter came from France on June 19. 'Dearest Darling Wife: Well, Honey, I haven't got to write you since our anniversary. I have been rather busy since. I think I will like this place pretty good when they quit celebrating so much. Ha! Ha! I wonder if I'll ever learn to talk to anyone here? It seems to me like these people have had a lot of stuff to put up with the past four years. Guess I can't say anything much except I'm in France.' It would be December of 1945 before he made it back home to her. And I was born 15 months later. That's just one story out of hundreds of thousands from those days 81 years ago when America fought to save the world.
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
I'm 92 and still live independently. I make sure to stay active, and I don't eat a lot of red meat.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mira Armstrong, a 92-year-old from Porepunkah, Australia. It has been edited for length and clarity. I built my home with my husband, Bruce, in 1956. Now that I'm 92 years old, I still live independently. I hope I croak it here. I was born in Poland in 1933 during the Depression. My father was a shoemaker and in the army reserve. When World War II broke out, he was taken prisoner and sent to Germany. My mother, siblings, and I followed. I got a rough start to life Life was pretty tough. We lived in a derelict, abandoned farmhouse and weren't allowed to go to school because we weren't German citizens. While German children were at school, we'd scavenge at the dump — once, we even found an old gramophone. Toward the end of the war, I remember hearing American planes overhead. An old German man cycled through our village, sounding a siren as they approached. They never bombed our village, only cities and factories. I remember watching thousands of British airmen being marched past on foot. They stopped and ate grass because they were so hungry. I wish I knew how to speak English back then, but I didn't. We moved to Australia after the war, and things changed After the war, we were moved from one displaced persons camp to another. Europe was in chaos. We spent some time in Italy, then came to Australia aboard the SS Skaugum. My father got a job in the ship's kitchen and was finally able to buy toothpaste. We'd cleaned our teeth with ash during the war. When we arrived in Melbourne on March 28, 1950, I was 17. It felt like heaven. Everything was so strange and unusual. We were finally free. My family eventually settled in Porepunkah, Victoria, and I met my husband, Bruce, at the local swimming hole. One day, he waited in his truck to pick my sister and me up from work, and that was it. We were married in 1954 — I was 21, Bruce was 24. Longevity could be hereditary — my mum lived to 97. She was hardworking and survived many hardships, too. But I have also made a few lifestyle choices that may have helped. Being active has always been a priority When I was younger, I used to cycle 24 kilometers to and from work, even to church in high heels. I did everything fast, whether it was housework or heaving hay bales around our farm. When Bruce and I built our house, we dug the foundation holes and the well by hand. We had five kids, and I was constantly busy. I worked in hospitality and retail, never behind a desk. These days, I still walk a lot, mainly around the house and outside, and I like to garden. I eat a balanced diet, and I don't drink or smoke I eat everything — probably because I remember the starvation during the war. Once, we went for four days without food. For breakfast, I have porridge or Weetabix. I eat soup full of veggies, wholemeal toasties, chicken, fish, and walnuts. There's not a lot of red meat in my diet. My vice is fruit, though I have to be careful because I'm borderline diabetic. I never smoked or drank, and I only recently started drinking coffee. Staying social and volunteering is key Our home was always social — full of friends and family. I enjoy spending time with my eight grandkids and eight great-grandkids. I've also done a lot of volunteer work: 29 years with Meals on Wheels, 14 years with the op shop, and years of church work. I get bored easily, and I enjoy giving back. My faith has given me comfort in tough times Bruce died in 1977 shortly after a trucking accident. He was 47 years old, I was 44. I still had three boys at home and about 70 cows to manage on our farm. It was a horrendous time, and I went through hell. I did three part-time jobs and took care of everything on autopilot. After Bruce died, I started cursing God and stopped going to church. Then, in 1992, my youngest son, Graham, was killed in a road accident. It was very difficult, and that's when I returned to church. My faith has brought me comfort ever since. I make sure to keep my mind active I keep my mind active with puzzles and reading. I enjoy thrillers, and hot romances, too. After Bruce died, I'd read romance novels through the night. In the morning, I didn't even remember what they were about. These days, I enjoy feeding the birds and gardening. For what it's worth, these habits may have led to my longevity, and they've surely contributed to my enjoyment of life. But my No. 1 tip for a long life? Don't die!
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Reporter's Notebook: Remembering courage on the 81st anniversary of D-Day
I've covered many anniversaries of D-Day, and they never lose their power to move. We were at the 81st anniversary at the stunning American cemetery in Normandy near Omaha Beach on Friday. American and other allied forces landed on that and other beaches, as well as parachuting from the skies, to go on to defeat Nazi Germany in World War II. World War Ii Veterans Travel To Normandy For Emotional D-day Commemoration Some 75,000 U.S. troops were involved. 2,500 were killed. 5,000 injured. Just on that day itself. One of those who made it across Omaha Beach is the still-very spry 102-year-old Minnesota-born Jake Larson. He declared to us jubilantly, "Not only did I make it through six battles … I made it without a scratch! Somebody 'upstairs' loves me." World War Ii Veterans Travel To Normandy For Emotional D-day Commemoration Read On The Fox News App Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the ceremony marking the day and met with the dwindling number of World War II veterans. He told us that alliances were important on D-Day and still could be important in these troubled times. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Reveals Why Military Recruitment Has Soared Under Trump " America first' hasn't meant and doesn't mean 'America alone,'" he added. "Working with our allies and partners, there's a lot we can accomplish now with gathering threats in the world." Still, some of those who saw action in Normandy and around the globe in World War II are not sure the message has gotten through. Two centenarian combat veterans and native New Yorkers, brought to France by the Greatest Generations Foundation, have their own thoughts. Flushing-born Ray Sweeney asked rhetorically, "What did we learn? I don't think we learned much. We gave up a lot of bodies. We had a lot of bodies." And Brooklyn-born Harold Radish noted, "War is heroic in the movies. But in real life, it's killing. It's not getting along with somebody." Still, the crowds who came Friday to the now-peaceful French beaches were steady and large. A strong sign that sacrifices have been remembered. And maybe some lessons article source: Reporter's Notebook: Remembering courage on the 81st anniversary of D-Day
