NEW ORLEANS — The National World War II Museum plans to celebrate a veteran’s 108th birthday this week. The museum says Lawrence Brooks’ birthday is Tuesday, and he’ll be at the museum for cupcakes and a ceremony featuring the Victory Belles close-harmony trio.

The New Orleans man served in the predominantly African-American 91st Engineer Battalion, which was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines during World War II. He was a servant to three white officers.

In a museum oral history , Brooks describes his feelings when an engine died on a C-47 carrying barbed wire from Australia to New Guinea — and only the pilot and copilot had parachutes.

The museum describes Brooks as one of the region’s oldest veterans. Spokeswoman Michelle Moore says the museum celebrated his 105th and 107th birthdays.

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