Pearl Harbor veteran John Williams (right), with Allen Park Mayor Gail McLeod (left) and Maple Heights life enrichment coordinator April Russell celebrates his 104th birthday at Maple Heights Senior Living Community.
Allen Park Mayor Gail McLeod (front left) congratulates Pearl Harbor veteran John Williams of Allen Park as he celebrates his 104th birthday at Maple Heights Senior Living Community.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
ALLEN PARK – Navy veteran John Williams, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, celebrated his 104th birthday at Maple Heights Senior Living Community, where he was honored by Mayor Gail McLeod.
Born Feb. 27, 1921 in Emporia, Kansas, he moved to Detroit with his family when he was 3 years old. The oldest of nine children, he has one surviving sister, who is 89 years old.
Williams has been widowed twice, and has outlived his two children. After his first wife died in California while pregnant with the couple’s third child, he moved back to Detroit with his two children, where he remarried. His second wife died seven years ago.
He has two granddaughters, four great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Williams worked for 34 years at Great Lakes Steel in Ecorse, and is a 67-year member of Whitlock Memorial Church of God in Christ in Detroit.
When he was in the Navy, he was serving as a cook on the island of Oahu the morning of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which launched the United States into World War II.
“I was scared,” he said. “We’re weren’t looking for that; I don’t think I was, and I don’t think no one else was, either. It was just one of those days.”
Pearl Harbor veteran John Williams (seated, left) of Allen Park, with his niece and caretaker, Vanessa Morgan of Southgate, celebrates his 104th birthday at Maple Heights Senior Living Community.
Williams attributes his faith in God to his long life, which he said includes trying to keep a positive attitude.
McLeod said on Feb. 26 that it is a pleasure to recognize the special birthday milestones of residents.
“We have a lot of people who are centenarians in Allen Park, so there must be something good in the water,” she said. “Last night (Feb. 25) at the city council meeting, we brought up a proclamation to John, not only recognizing his 104th birthday, but also his service to his country and the fact that he is a Pearl Harbor survivor.”
McLeod congratulated Williams, and said she hopes she is able to celebrate his 105th birthday with him next year.
His niece and caretaker, Vanessa Morgan, 67, of Southgate, said her uncle made the best cheesecake ever.
“My uncle used to be the best cook ever,” she said. “He has always been an excellent cook.”
Morgan said her uncle has always been a very serious person.
“One of his favorite sayings was, ‘Do it right the first time and you don’t have to go back and do it again,’” she said.