Final Salute: Beloved Brick WWII Hero Dies at 100, Leaving Town in Mourning

Brick Township, NJ — A deep silence fell over parts of Brick last week, and it wasn’t because of the weather. It was the kind of quiet that follows the loss of someone who carried not just stories, but history itself. One of Brick’s proudest residents—a 100-year-old World War II Army veteran—passed away, and with him, a living piece of America’s Greatest Generation is gone.

He wasn’t just any elder; he was part of a vanishing group. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 65,000 World War II veterans remain across the country, and roughly 15,000 of them live in New Jersey. Not only did his death end a life, it also quietly ended a time when tanks, bravery, and success were all big deals.

People in Brick say that he was known for both his work in Iraq and how humble he was when he got back home. He was known for his quiet time with kids at neighborhood events, where he taught them what sacrifice really means without bragging. His 100th birthday was not long ago, and many people thought he would live longer than the stories he used to tell. That episode ended last week, which is sad.

People in this group are proud to have known a man who stood where history was being made and makes them remember happy times. The word “hero” is used too often, but he deserved it and wore it for a hundred years. That is what his death shows.

Brick takes down its flags and hearts, and it makes you wonder: Who will tell these stories after the last soldier leaves?