A World War II veteran just celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by his family — 76 years after he was declared dead.
Tom Greenwood served as an engineer during World War II. In 1942, his unit became stuck behind enemy lines in North Africa, and he was captured. The army sent Tom’s parents a telegram, informing them that their only son had been killed in action.
In fact, Tom was very much alive and a prisoner of war. He spent the rest of the war in camps throughout Austria and Italy. After the war, he flew home to his family and married his sweetheart Marjorie.
On December 29, 2018, Tom turned 100 years old. So much for being killed at war!
Tom is now a great-grandfather of two. His children, Dave and Sheila, say he never spoke much about the war unless a TV show reminded him of it. As for the secret to his long life? He says it was to “keep breathing.”
Source : https://www.littlethings.com/presumed-dead-ww2-veteran-100th-birthday/