Surrounded by family, and with a wide smile, longtime Dequincy resident and World War II veteran, Allen Joseph Landry, celebrated his 100th birthday recently.

At 19, Landry joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942, at the height of the second world war, and served until a year after the war’s conclusion in 1946.

This makes him one of the oldest living U.S. World War II veterans.

Born January 29th, 1923, Landry couldn’t celebrate his birthday with his extended family in his birth month, so long-time family friend Irma Glaubrecht, her cousin Mozell Fletcher and her daughter Angela Thibodaux, organized a gathering at the Landry family restaurant in Jeanerette.

Before sitting down and celebrating his birthday, the sharp-for-his age man toured around New Iberia and Jeanerette, visiting family and taking in the sights.

Glaubrecht created a quilt in honor of Landry’s service in 2019, but since  tearfully receiving it, Landry said he’s scared to really use it.

He married Royce Hebert Landry in 1947, and together, they had four children, 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.