Living History: Milwaukee Brewers help celebrate 105th birthday of remarkable WWII veteran Ed Miklavcic
MILWAUKEE (CBS58) — It was a remarkable moment 105 years in the making. A roaring crowd cheering for Brookfield's Ed Miklavcic as he entered American Family Field.
However, this is a story that began a few weeks earlier, at a birthday bash.
"Let me see, how do I feel I feel great," said Miklavcic.
To mark the monumental day, his assisted living home in Brookfield threw him a party.
"It's wonderful but they're all my friends," said Miklavcic.
In 105 years, he has lived through history, the Great Depression, wars, the rise of technology but he says the best memories were the ones he shared with his late wife.
"My marriage to my wonderful wife. We were married for 70 years," said Miklavcic.
Before the celebration, I sat down with Miklavcic.
He proudly slipped into a replica of his World War II uniform, a powerful nod to his past.
He was just 20 years old when he joined the Air Force.
"We were prepared, the week before, the day before the attack," said Miklavcic.
84 years later, he's never forgotten that day on December 7th, 1941.
"All the time, never forget what the eyes see the brain keeps up," said Miklavcic.
Miklavcic says it was just another morning on base when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
“I was going down the staircase to breakfast. It was very stressful during the attack; it was like we were in shock as we left the barracks and tried to run toward the housing. It seemed as if our legs were like logs," Miklavcic recalled.
On Wheeler Air Force base Miklavcic's job was to arm planes with ammunition.
"We went back to the field to try to recover whatever we could from the planes that were destroyed. We lost 150 airplanes, all of our airplanes in fact," said Miklavcic.
After the attacks, Miklavcic was sent to Iwo Jima where he set up the base.
"When we landed the first 8 weeks on the airfield we worked on the airfield, and we slept in two-man fox holes at night. All of us never had our shoes off, our clothes off for 8 weeks," said Miklavcic.
He stayed until the atomic bombs were dropped ending the war.
"I left Iwo Jima the day the first atomic bomb was dropped," said Miklavcic.
Miklavcic served his country from the beginning to the end of World War II.
"We were the first ship to land in the United States after the war was over, we landed in Seattle," said Miklavcic.
He's one of 16 remaining survivors of Pearl Harbor; throughout his life he has never forgotten the ones who didn't come home.
"I've been laying the wreaths for a number of years. I lay the wreaths for the sailors, the sailors that died on the Arizona," said Miklavcic.
After the war he hitchhiked back to the Midwest, raised a family, and spent lots of time in his garden.
I planted big gardens, and my neighbors said you plant a big garden your neighbors reap the harvest all the ladies came at dinner time and get their vegetables for mealtime," Miklavcic explained.
Miklavcic says he credits his longevity to taking care of himself.
"Always careful what I ate, and I always did a lot of exercise. I walked every day, and, in my work, I walked all the time," said Miklavcic.
One of his favorite places to walk? On the golf course.
"Would you be able to help me with my golf swing," Pavlina asked.
"Yes, I got my clubs in my room," Miklavcic laughed.
In the common area of his assisted living home Miklavcic gave me some pointers.
"I would rather have you go lesser than more. That's better, very good," said Miklavcic.
Before I left, I had one more question for this man who's seen so much.
"What's next for Ed," Pavlina asked.
"I want to go to one more baseball game before I die," said Miklavcic.
It was a comment I couldn't ignore, so after a few phone calls we made it possible.
"Unbelievable, unbelievable, once in a lifetime," said Miklavcic.
On Wednesday the Brewers honored Miklavcic and celebrated his 105th birthday before their afternoon game again the Detroit Tigers.
See Pavlina's coverage of how the Brewers honored Miklavcic here