--- title: "WWII vet surprised with 50,000 birthday cards" date: "2020-04-29" modified: "2020-10-30" authors: - name: "Zackry Colston" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/zackrycolston.md" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/vet-50-000-birthday-cards/" categories: - "History" - "War History" - "World War II" --- # WWII vet surprised with 50,000 birthday cards ![]() It feels like anything you get in your mailbox nowadays are bills, grocery store ads (wow, $3 raspberries. *T**hanks,* Albertsons), and reminders from your dentist (I *know* I'm late for my cleaning Dr. Cruz, please stop guilting me). But a very special American hero received a whole lot more than that in his mailbox... --- *S**ue Morse and Duane Sherm**an (96)* *(Kevin Sullivan/The Orange County Register via AP)* Duane Sherman, a World War II veteran from California, recently had quite a big birthday surprise. His daughter, Sue Morse, posted on social media asking for letters to be sent to him for his 96th birthday. She expected maybe a hundred or so cards--but after her social media post went viral, they received over 50,000 hand mailed cards for Duane. (*Kevin Sullivan/The Ora**nge County Register via AP)* Duane Sherman enlisted in the Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He saw combat aboard the U.S.S. Lamson. He was struck by shrapnel from kamikaze pilots aboard the Lamson on December 7th, 1944--exactly 3 years after the Pearl Harbor attacks. The outpouring of support for the WWII veteran came from all walks of life: elementary school kids, prison inmates, Ohio State, and even the Pittsburgh Steelers. Letters were sent from all 50 states, and 10 different countries. The popular forum website "Reddit" reposted the request for letters--and it took the site by storm. Hundreds of thousands of users commented and shared the request, sending in their own handwritten love to the American vet. Because Duane is legally blind, Sue has taken to reading the cards aloud to him. She's read over a thousand letters and, according to Fox News, has enlisted the help of friends to complete the task. In a world wrought with bad news, it's refreshing to see such a massive gentle act of kindness affect so many people. Perhaps he will get 50,001 on his 97th birthday. ## Author Zackry Colston is a comedian, writer, and actor from Tucson, AZ, with a degree in theatrical production and an emphasis in literature. He lives in Los Angeles alongside his keyboard and delusions of grandeur. ## More - [4 things you didn’t know about the war epic ‘Saving Private Ryan’]() - [Here’s how America prepared for chemical warfare in World War II]() - [Harry Belafonte: Singer, activist, humanitarian, Navy veteran, legend, dead at 96]() - [The Battle of Leyte Gulf screw up that actually saved America in the Philippines]() - [Virginia Hall: The woman in charge of a British spy network]() - [A Tale of Two Ships: The USS Samuel B. Roberts of World War II and the Persian Gulf]() - [Nazi Germany’s one aircraft carrier was target practice for the Soviets]() - [How two brothers in World War II inspired the most realistic war game ever]()