Moses Eldridge is Ohio’s oldest living World War II Army veteran. When asked what it feels like to be 108, he grins and says, “Like an old man.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio — They say age is just a number. For Moses Eldridge, that number —108— is almost impossible to imagine.
Eldridge, Ohio’s oldest living World War II Army veteran, was born on April 17, 1917. At 108 years old, when asked about his age, he simply replies, “Like an old man,” with a grin on his face.
But his spirit tells a different story.
In 1943, at the age of 26, Eldridge was drafted into the military. He served in the 131st Engineers Regiment, specifically working as a water purifier. It is important to note that during his time of service, Black and white regiments were segregated, and integration did not occur until five years later.
Kevin Landers: “Did you have a problem with that?”
Eldridge: “No, I didn’t have a problem with that,” he says simply, reflecting the stoicism of his generation.
For three years, Eldridge ensured his company had clean water—a vital, if often overlooked, role.
Recalling his days in the military, Eldridge remembers being responsible for ensuring the company’s water supply. His service took him to various locations, as indicated in his honorable discharge papers, including New Guinea, Luzon, and the Asian Pacific Theatre. He vividly recalls spending eighteen months traveling across the Pacific Ocean, eventually reaching places like Guam and the Philippines.
His favorite memory from the Army? Marching.
“The guy calling ‘Forward, hut!’ and everybody started marching—one, two, three, four,” Eldrige says, his voice brightening at the recollection.
Though time has faded some memories, music brings others rushing back. When asked to sing, Eldridge’s voice fills the room with “Amazing Grace” and “Jesus Is the Center of My Joy.” They are memories of traveling his choir.
As we mark another Memorial Day, the numbers are sobering. In Ohio, there are just 2,352 living World War II veterans. Nationwide, that number is just over 66,000. By 2036 — just 11 years from now — that number will reach zero.
Eldridge, Ohio’s longest-living World War II Army veteran, has a message for those who serve now and those about to serve: “Give your best, I’ll say that. Give the best you can. Remember you are a soldier in the US Army, so behave like a soldier.”
His daughter says Eldridge takes only two medications. When asked what attributed to his long life, he said, “Honor your mother and your father.”
On this Memorial Day, we remember not just the numbers, but the voices, stories, and songs of those who served—and the wisdom they still have to share.
