100-year-old Navy vet keeps World War II spirit alive
- Lloyd Glick served on the USS North Carolina
- More than 16 million Americans fought in World War II
- Only a few hundred World War II veterans are alive
(NewsNation) —– Lloyd Glick has always believed every American has a duty to serve their country in some way during their lifetime.
At 100 years young, the World War II U.S. Navy veteran continues to practice what he preaches.
Glick, who enlisted in the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, remains a living piece of history as one of only hundreds of surviving World War II veterans. At least once a week, Glick volunteers his time as a docent on the USS Iowa, a retired battleship docked in Southern California.
Glick was stationed on the USS North Carolina, playing trumpet in a big band orchestra to entertain thousands of homesick American sailors.
“It was a period of relaxation among some rather heavy battles,” Glick told NewsNation.
Glick turned 100 earlier this year but has shown no signs of slowing down. As he remains among a small population of living World War II veterans, Glick wants to continue to inspire those who visit the battleship any way he can.
“We’re really blessed to have somebody like Lloyd every single day to still be here,” Jonathan Williams, the President and CEO of the Battleship Iowa Museum, told NewsNation.
Now, 82 years after he first enlisted in the Navy, Glick wants to continue sharing a living history lesson with anyone he comes into contact with as the nation prepares to commemorate Memorial Day on Monday.
“I get a chance to keep alive the knowledge and the spirit and the feeling of World War II,” said Glick, who was one of more than 16 million Americans who fought in the war.
Asked what his secret is to remaining so active at his age, Glick responded, “It’s a secret for a reason.”