Oklahoma World War II Veteran Turns 100

Oklahoma World War II Veteran, Ed Bray, turned 100 years old on Friday.

Reaching the age of 100 comes with lots of stories and Ed loves to share them.

"'Get your duffle bags, we are leaving to get on a boat' and I said, 'oh man here it comes,'” Ed said. “Went overseas on the Queen Mary. We left New York City June 1st, I landed on D-Day June 6th."

Ed’s granddaughter, Addie Ballard, has listened to many of his stories.

“We would go through our history class and they are talking about D-Day and World War II and they will talk about the Civil Rights Movement and the Dust Bowl and all of those big events that have happened in our history and he has lived through them,” Addie said.

Ed remembers storming Omaha Beach while serving in the army during World War II. He was shot in the knee just after making it to shore.

"I said, 'this is it,'” Bray said. “'I am never going to go home.' I could see it plain as day."

But he did make it back home and retired from the Army a year later with dozens of medals, including two purple hearts and a bronze star.

After the army, Ed married the love of his life, Margaret. They had seven kids, 18 grandchildren, and even more great grand kids.

Family means a lot to Ed, and he’s created bonds with each generation.

"So many good things happened to me, it's hard for me to say,” Ed said. "I think the thing I am most proud of are these three girls."

"I get emotional thinking about it,” Addie said. “It's awesome. Not a lot of people can say that their grandfather is turning 100."

Despite being a master storyteller, Ed couldn’t read until he was almost 90. CBS reporter Steve Hartman helped tell this chapter of Ed’s story in 2013.

Ten years later, he and Addie have their eyes set on the next pages of his life; dancing at Addie’s wedding.