The fireworks are all for him!
Army and World War II veteran James G. Minor shares a birthday with America and celebrated his 100th birthday on July 4, 2022.
The Guntersville VA Clinic threw Minor a surprise celebration for his birthday, according to a VA blog post. He also received a framed certificate representing his significant milestone from Birmingham VA and a video message from Executive Director Dr. Oladipo Kukoyi.
“Well, I don’t really know,” Minor responded when asked what his secret is to a long life. “I just love the Lord and he loves me. He’s what gives me a long life.”
His daughter, Zaneta (Zee), says he never drank alcohol or coffee, didn’t smoke, and never really had any bad habits throughout his life.
Minor was drafted into the infantry in 1942, months after getting married to the love of his life, Ruby. He spent most of his time in service in Italy and Germany as a skilled mechanic. Due to his exceptional work ethic, Gen. Alexander Patch selected Minor as his driver, a dangerous job as high-ranking service members are an enemy target.
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“I had a good time,” Minor said of his service. “We were just trying to win the war and we did.”
After the war ended in 1945, Minor returned to his wife and family in Alabama, where he attended a school for electrical training in Birmingham and worked as a mechanic on large aircraft. Minor learned how to fly them to understand how to fix them better.
Minor and Ruby were married for 78 years before she passed away a few years ago. The couple had three daughters together and took them traveling as much as possible. Zee said her parents always made sure life was an adventure for them, so she makes sure her dad is still having experiences today.
For his 100th birthday, Minor’s family threw a party with 73 close family members and friends in attendance.
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“Everyone loves my daddy, and loves to see him still going on and loving life,” said Zee.
Minor would joke to his family every year while fireworks burst on the Fourth of July, “You hear that? Everyone is celebrating my birthday.”
American Legion Post 255 presented Minor with a folded American flag and an Army flag. Because he is an avid angler, Cabela’s, an outdoor hunting and fishing company, donated a fishing box kit for his birthday.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.