One of 15 children, Brooks was born on September 12, 1909, and was raised in Norwood, Louisiana, a small village about 40 miles north of Baton Rouge. He was drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 31 and spent World War II in the predominantly African American 91st Engineer Battalion. He was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Classified as service personnel, he cleaned and cooked for three of the battalion's white officers and attained the rank of Private 1st Class.
Returning home after the war, Brooks worked as a forklift operator for four decades, retiring in his seventies. His wife, Leona, died in November 2008, and he is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.
Returning home after the war, Brooks worked as a forklift operator for four decades, retiring in his seventies. His wife, Leona, died in November 2008, and he is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.
One of 15 children, Brooks was born on September 12, 1909, and was raised in Norwood, Louisiana, a small village about 40 miles north of Baton Rouge. He was drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 31 and spent World War II in the predominantly African American 91st Engineer Battalion. He was stationed in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Classified as service personnel, he cleaned and cooked for three of the battalion's white officers and attained the rank of Private 1st Class.
Returning home after the war, Brooks worked as a forklift operator for four decades, retiring in his seventies. His wife, Leona, died in November 2008, and he is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.
Returning home after the war, Brooks worked as a forklift operator for four decades, retiring in his seventies. His wife, Leona, died in November 2008, and he is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.
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