After a social media request for birthday cards for a World War II vet went viral, his wish has been granted!
James South hit a big milestone in his life, and invited others to help him celebrate by mailing him a birthday card.
South turned 100 on October 7 and his birthday wish was to receive 100 cards. It's a wish his assisted living home made come true.
Brookdale Senior Living in Watauga, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, posted an image of South with a sign on Facebook last month.
South grew up in northeast Texas in a large family of sharecroppers, his son, Jim South, told CNN. He joined the Army in 1940 and was deployed to Normandy seven days after D-Day. During his service, his girlfriend Sophie wrote him a letter every day.
"They were married for 55 years until she passed in 2001," said Jim South, who is the couple's only child.
Since retiring at the age of 65, South has stayed active by woodworking, growing his garden, playing golf, and attending church, his son said. It was only last year at the age of 98 that he moved into Brookdale.
Jim South said he had a three-day celebration planned for his dad's big birthday that includes playing golf, eating chicken fried steak and catfish at his favorite restaurants and spending time with his family.
"My dad taught me that a hug is better then a handshake," said Jim. "And that money wasn't the goal in life -- it was happiness."
South plans on hanging the cards on a wall in his room.
The-CNN-Wire
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