Take a look at this awesme story, WW2 Veteran’s Reaction to Son Fixing His 1946 Cadilac to Drive!
Today, we want to share the story of Walt West, a World War II veteran who recently celebrated his 102nd birthday.
Walt West, a resident of Texas, served as a sergeant in the Army during WWII. He was in the Southwest Pacific, in the spearhead division and was in the 81st division, known as the Fighting Wildcats. He was in the Battle of Angaur in the Pacific, and remembers listening to Tokyo Rose on the radio. He mentions that he never talked about his service unless asked and never had anyone say “thank you for your service” when he returned home.
After returning home from the war, Walt faced challenges in adjusting to civilian life. He recounts how he returned home from Japan on a ship called Cleveland, which hit a typhoon and how it was difficult to find a job after the war because veterans were not given priority. He also mentions that he did not receive any benefits or pension from the government.
Despite these challenges, Walt has lived a long and fulfilling life, surrounded by his family and loved ones. For his 100th birthday, his son Harry wanted to give him a special surprise. Walt, now 102 years old, has always dreamed of driving his 1946 Cadillac one last time before he passes away. However, this car had been sitting in a barn for 45 years and wouldn’t run.
Walt’s son, Harry, decided to take on the task of restoring the car for his father’s 100th birthday. He knew it would be a daunting task, but he was determined to make his father’s dream come true. Harry took the car to his garage 80 miles away and started working on it. Unfortunately, after many attempts, the engine was found to be beyond repair and frozen solid.
But Harry didn’t give up. He searched for a replacement engine and found one from a cotton gin, which was the same type of engine used in M24 tanks during WWII. He knew it would be a perfect fit for his father’s car. Harry worked tirelessly on the engine, rebuilding and restoring it to its former glory. He also made sure that all the other systems of the car were in good working order.
As the day of Walt’s 100th birthday approached, Harry was ready to surprise his father with the fully restored car. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the car wasn’t ready in time for his 100th birthday. But Harry didn’t let that dampen his spirits and continued to work on the car.
Finally, the day came when the car was ready and Walt’s 102nd birthday was approaching. However, Harry didn’t wanted to disappoint his father, so he came up with a plan B. He decided to give Walt a ride in a Model T dressed up for Veterans Day parade for his 102nd birthday.
Walt was thrilled with the surprise and couldn’t believe that his son had gone through so much effort to make his dream come true. He reminisced about his time in the army, serving as a sergeant in the Southwest Pacific, in the spearhead division and was in the 81st division, known as the Fighting Wildcats. He remembered listening to Tokyo Rose on the radio during the Battle of Angaur in the Pacific.
