THE VILLAGES, Fla. — Irving Locker is a former staff sergeant for the U.S. Army.

He is one of the few remaining veterans to have served in World War II and his legacy is still very much alive as he turns 101.

In The Villages, his friends of 16 years threw the veteran a special tribute for his birthday.

“I think God that I’m alive and well,” he said.

Locker’s birthday is on Nov. 8, just a few days before Veteran’s Day.

He lives a slower-paced life now, but he still does what he can to tell the next generation about World War II.

He even held on to several items from his days on the battlefield, from German Lugers and daggers to a Nazi flag he had his men sign after freeing a Holocaust camp.

But his proudest memory from the war, he says, was doing what he could to keep his men safe.

“I took every shower head I could find away from the Germans,” he said. “My men had a shower for the first time in 3 months or 4 months.”

One of the last remaining veterans of World War II, Irving has gained national attention.

From a presidential honor to a feature on his songwriting capabilities, a new hobby he’s just picked up.

But Irving said getting another day to live side-by-side his wife of 77 years, Bernice, and another day with good friends is a blessing.

He also shared his mantra for what keeps him going.

“I learned to thank God in the war, I thank God every single day,” he said.

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