WWII Vet Asks for 100 Cards to Celebrate 100th Birthday — a Request Linked to His Late Wife
In celebration of his 100th birthday on Oct. 7, World War II veteran James South had a simple request for the public: to receive 100 birthday cards.
South’s assisted living home, Brookdale Watauga in Texas, helped to spread the word by sharing a photo of James holding up a sign with his request.
“Hello! My name is James South and I am a proud WWII veteran!” the sign read. “I will be turning 100 on October 7th, 2019. I would like to receive 100 birthday cards. Please mail to: 5800 North Park Dr., Watauga, TX 76148. Thank you!”
Letters hold a special significance for James, as his girlfriend, Sophie, wrote him one every day while he was at war, he told local ABC affiliate WFAA. When he returned home, Sophie became his wife, and they were married for 55 years before her death in 2001.
“It would give me a feeling that I am recognized for what I do, what I am,” he said of receiving the cards. “And I would cherish it forever.”
James got his birthday wish — tenfold. In a heart-warming photo shared on the Brookdale Watauga Facebook page, James was seen grinning over thousands of letters.
