World War II Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A World War II veteran in Minneapolis celebrated a very special birthday Friday.
"Downstairs they say, 'You're going to live forever,' so I don't know," Bernard "Bud" Dicks said.
Bud was born on June 10, 1916. Over the last century he's done everything from running his own butcher shop in Minneapolis to serving as a Marine during World War II.
"To know you have a combined unit and they're all attached to each other, that's a very good feeling," Bud said.
Bud married his wife, Mary, in 1940. They were married 75 years until she died last summer, at the age of 100. They had six children, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Now, Bud stays active by golfing as much as he can. He says it's been fascinating watching history over the last century.
"I remember the [Ford] Model T I thought, 'My god, this is really an invention,'" he said. "Well that's like a tin can going down the road compared to the equipment that they have today."
As Bud's friends and family celebrated him with a birthday party Friday afternoon at his senior living center, he said he is most proud of the legacy he leaves behind -- his family.
"No regrets," Bud said. "Most people as you go through life are pretty nice."
Bud was honored with several awards for the two years he spent serving in the marines.
As for his advice to live to be 100 years old? Bud said he's always positive and loves bacon and a good glass of whiskey.
