MILWAUKEE — Monday, November 11th is Veteran's Day. It honors American veterans for their service and sacrifice to the country.
TMJ4's Andrea Williams had an opportunity to sit down with a special veteran who's 104-years-young.
Vernon C. Townsend was born in Tchula, Mississippi in 1920. He reflected on being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942.
"I was too small to work with the trucks, so they put me in the medical department, I got into the medical department, and I ended up doing things the doctors wouldn't do," he said.
Given the nickname "Toy Soldier," he took Medical Basic Training and served as a Hospital Orderly, administering first aid to the sick, injured, and wounded.
Watch: Andrea Williams chats with a 104-year-old WWII veteran.
"I took care of all the babies, and I took care of the men and women when they came in waves."
World War II was the largest and deadliest war in history, involving more than 30 countries. The National WWII Museum reports that more than one million African American men and women served in every branch of the US armed forces during that time. They did so in the face of racism and segregation.
"What was it like being a Black man in the military during that time?" asked Williams.
"Well, they kept us back, but they couldn’t do it without us. Nothing ever bothered me because I kept moving forward," said Townsend.
Mr. Vernon received a Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon. He completed his enlistment with an Honorable Discharge in 1946.
Since an early age, Mr. Townsend has loved trucks and tractors.
"At the age of eight, I was making good money repairing them," he said.
When he completed his service in 1946, he moved to Milwaukee to focus on his first love: automobiles.
"My brother was here when I got out of the service. They didn’t have anyone to fix those trucks and tractors, and that’s how I got to Milwaukee."
He helped build an auto repair shop in the 1980s, and it’s still in operation today on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.
Since moving to Milwaukee, he’s gone on the Honor Flight and was also recognized as the Hero of the Game by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Army veteran Otis Winstead, President and CEO of Great Lakes Dry Hootch on East Brady, wanted to do something special for Mr. Townsend, who has never been formally recognized for his service.
"Those are the shoulders we stand on. And he said it himself, 'I continue to move forward.' That’s profound," said Winstead.
In 2020, Mr. Winstead was behind the first mural at the War Memorial honoring African-American men and women in the Armed Forces. Thursday, Mr. Townsend and other veterans will be honored at a special event at the Milwaukee County War Memorial. Bestselling Author Doug Melville will be the keynote speaker.
"I’m honored. Think about it—I’m honored. Mr. Townsend is 104-years-old. By the grace of God, I’m in a position where I can humbly do something like this," said Winstead.
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