CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -
A man who served in both World War II and in Korea turns 100 years old the day after Memorial Day.
William Henson Shorter, known by everyone as "Sarge", served in the Army for 32 years. During WWII he was in the pacific with General John MacArthur.
"When MacArthur made his speech 'I have returned', I was right close. He left and I stayed," he said.
Despite his age, Sarge is still independent.
He 'retired' recently from his bowling team and drives his Toyota Camry to the bowling alley and anywhere else he needs to go.
"I've got vertigo but I've got a stick [a walking cane] so I can get around pretty good. I can drive better than I can walk," he said.
Shorter saw plenty of combat during WWII, once stumbling by accident into the Japanese headquarters before finding his way out.
"We've got a guardian angel. I honestly believe that we have one. Someone was looking out for me because I should have been killed and didn't," he said.
Sarge's mind and sense of humor are as sharp as ever.
"I got two purple hearts," he said, "and I'm pretty sure my own men shot me both times."
On a recent bowling match he said, "I didn't do too [well] but he rolled a 301. People say how in the world can he bowl 301? And I said you surely don't bowl 300 and lose."
Sarge lives now at Uffelman Estates Independent Retirement Living in Clarksville.
He told Nashville's News 2 that he didn't think turning 100 is a big deal, but admits, "When I got to be close to 100 it makes you feel pretty good."
