WWII Vet Celebrates 100th Birthday, Shares Wise Words: ‘Drink Good Liquor and Stay Away From Wild Women’

(Illustration - Shutterstock)

World War II veteran Clarence Kelly, from Spring Branch, Texas, celebrated his 100th birthday on Veteran’s Day 2019. In light of his long life plethora of achievements, Kelly’s community threw a party in his honor.

The still-sprightly centenarian even shared an insight into how to live as long as he has; his humorous words of wisdom are prompting smiles from netizens across the nation. “Drink good liquor,” he told KHOU 11, “and stay away from wild women!”

In 1942, the native Houstonian enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school. During World War II, he served as a medic jeep driver for the 6th Armored Division. According to KHOU 11, he even served in the Battle of the Bulge at the age of 22.

The young soldier survived an explosion after his jeep ran over a landmine. He walked away from the scene with only minor scratches, while a fellow soldier was seriously injured. “I just got a few scratches [and a] bloody nose,” he recalled. That was the most memorable moment from the war, he says.

Kelly later received a Purple Heart for his service in the war, which he still has on display at his home some 75 years later.

Illustration - Shutterstock | Andy Dean Photography

According to the U.S. Army Center of Military History, after the German troops’ ambitious counteroffensive of December 1944, nicknamed the “Battle of the Bulge,” U.S. Army forces deployed in the Ardennes suffered some 75,000 casualties.

The Germans, however, lost between 80,000 and 100,000 soldiers. Kelly was one of the lucky men who returned home to his family after the devastating battle; upon returning to Texas, Kelly worked for the railroad.

Today, the veteran, who always flies an American flag outside his Spring Branch residence, is slightly hearing-impaired and suffers from a troublesome knee. Otherwise, Kelly boasts excellent health. Kelly has even maintained a trim 130 pounds (approx. 59 kg) in weight, the same as when he was a young soldier fighting in Europe.

Illustration - Shutterstock | flysnowfly

In 2018, Kelly’s sons took their father on a trip to Europe to revisit old haunts and retrace some of the steps Kelly took as a soldier in the war.

On the occasion of his 100th birthday, surrounded by friends and family, Kelly celebrated in style with a block party in his neighborhood and some much-deserved attention from local news outlets and social media.

Comments from Facebook users overwhelmingly voiced gratitude for Kelly’s service and congratulated the veteran on his momentous birthday. “Wow he was born in 1919, amazing,” wrote one person. “Happy birthday!”

“Happy Birthday Mr. Kelly,” wrote another. “May your day be filled with laughter and love. Thank you for your service!”

The year 2019 saw a number of World War II veterans reach their 100th birthday. Texas veteran James South, this time from Watauga, Texas, had his Oct. 7 birthday request broadcast by his assisted-living community on social media; South hoped to receive 100 birthday cards.

After word of the 100-year-old veteran’s wish got out, people got busy mailing cards. South received an astounding total of over 100,000 cards on the special occasion.

“To go to a store in town and pick out a card and send it to me, that’s almost more than I can handle I’ll tell ya,” South told WFAA. “It touches my heart.”