For James South, there’s nothing better than a handwritten letter.
The Texas-based WWII veteran’s late wife, Sophie, used to mail him love letters every day while he was deployed to Normandy. Now about to turn 100 years old, all he wants is more snail mail.
The soon-to-be-centenarian has put a call out on Facebook, asking for 100 birthday cards to celebrate the milestone, and remind him of his sweetheart.
In an image shared to Facebook on Friday, James is shown holding a poster board with a message, “Hello! My name is James South and I am a proud World War II veteran! I will be turning 100 on October 7th, 2019. I would like to receive 100 birthday cards,” the sign reads, in the post by Brookdale Senior Living in Watauga, Texas, which has over 1,500 shares and 160 birthday wishes from followers.
Raised in a large family of sharecroppers in northeast Texas, James joined the Army in 1940 and was sent to France just seven days after D-Day, his son Jim South, told CNN. James’ girlfriend, who would later become his wife and Jim’s mother, wrote her beau every single day he spent overseas.
“They were married for 55 years until she passed in 2001,” said Jim of his parents.
When James retired at 65, he stayed busy with woodworking, gardening, golfing and going to church, said his son, and only moved into the senior living center near Fort Worth just two years ago.
James is celebrating his birthday over three days filled with family, golf and dining at his favorite restaurants, where he’ll have chicken-fried steak and catfish, said Jim.
“My dad taught me that a hug is better then a handshake,” he said. “And that money wasn’t the goal in life — it was happiness.”
Jim is asking that well-wishers send their regards to:
James South5800 North Park Drive
Watauga, TX 76148