Georgia WWII veteran celebrates 103rd birthday

WOODSTOCK, Ga. – A World Conflict II veteran in Georgia is celebrating his 103rd birthday this week.

“Yeah, at present is my birthday, 103,” Charlie O. Duncan mentioned throughout a celebration on Wednesday on the Semper Fi Bar & Grille in Woodstock.

Duncan was born on Could 27, 1919. At age 25, after two deferments, he was drafted into the U.S. Military as a fight engineer. In 1944, he was given the weekend to report back to Fort McPherson in Atlanta. From there he would undergo fundamental coaching in Virginia and Texas. He was then shipped out from New York to England.

Duncan mentioned his most memorable half about serving was seeing the nations. From England, he landed in France, drove by Belgium and on to Germany. He mentioned he acquired fortunate as he solely acquired into one battle. He mentioned he was simply exterior of Berlin when the struggle ended.

Throughout his time, he would ship short-term bridges to the frontline. He drove a bailey bridge and a pontoon bridge as much as the road the place troopers would assemble it. He then would work to reconstruct the destroyed bridges utilizing scrap and former items.

In 2017, he mirrored with the Marietta Day by day Journal about seeing the focus camps in Germany and his different experiences.

Duncan grew up on a farm in Georgia and mentioned he had by no means even heard of Pearl Harbor earlier than the assault. He got here again dwelling to that farm after about six months of service. He confronted being redeployed in Japan, however by no means was.

Over the previous century, he would attempt to stay proper, eat proper and keep energetic.

“Take a look at the hair on my head,” Duncan mentioned, including a remark about his lack of wrinkles on his face.

He mentioned he’ll get drained out, however continues to be going robust.

“I don’t understand how you are alleged to really feel (at 103),” Duncan mentioned.

He mentioned he works out day-after-day within the pool doing aerobics and walks 1 / 4 mile.

Duncan did warn about dwelling too lengthy. He mentioned he survived his spouse who died in February and has been lonesome ever since. He mentioned he’d prefer to see her once more sometime within the hereafter.

Nonetheless, his many associates, household, and admirers mentioned they hope to have a celebration for him yearly for the close to future.

FOX 5 wish to thank him for his service and want him an unimaginable 103rd birthday.