104-year-old World War II vet receives more than 70,000 valentines from well-wishers across the globe

William White and his great-granddaughters read cards.

(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/B/60)

published 13 February 2020

This will be William White's 104th Valentine's Day, and it's shaping up to be the best one yet.

White, 104, is a World War II veteran who lives in an assisted living facility in Stockton, California. A retired major, he received a Purple Heart after being injured at Iwo Jima. One of White's neighbors wanted to honor his service, and put up a request on social media, asking people to send White valentines. The goal was to hit 100, but with a few days to go before Valentine's Day, White has received more than 70,000 cards.

"It's just too fantastic," White told Reuters. Cards have come in from all 50 states, as well as foreign countries. Because there are so many letters, White's family and several volunteers are taking turns opening the cards and reading the messages to him. In one touching note, a woman named Jane said her late grandfather also fought in World War II, and would be turning 100 this year. "I miss him so much," she wrote. "By sending you this card, I feel as though I am sending my grandfather a card."

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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