At 103 years old, World War II paratrooper Willard “Wink” Lamb still swims laps five days a week. This Veterans Day, his hometown of Vancouver, Washington, gave him a special place of honor, and it gave a crowd of children the rare chance to see two living World War II veterans in person.
Lamb and fellow WWII veteran Harry Humason, 101, were the honored guests at the 38th annual Lough Legacy Veterans Parade on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The two men watched from the front porch of the historic Marshall House as marching bands, classic cars and Junior ROTC cadets passed by, KPTV and The Columbian reported.
From Pearl Harbor to the paratroopers
Lamb grew up in Longview, Washington, where he learned to swim in Lake Sacajawea. He broke several records in high school and went on to swim for the University of Washington, according to KPTV.
Then came the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lamb’s college years were cut short when he was drafted into the Army, and he served as a paratrooper during World War II. After the war he came home to the Pacific Northwest and worked as a carpenter.
He never stopped swimming. KPTV reported that the International Swimming Hall of Fame credits him with nearly 100 world records. The station said he is about a month away from turning 104.
A routine that keeps him going
Lamb lives at Touchmark at Fairway Village in Vancouver. Five days a week, around 1 p.m., he works with personal trainer Laurie Iams and swims laps in the pool there, according to The Columbian. Iams told KPTV she has sometimes had to slow him down.
“Nothing slows this guy down.” — personal trainer Laurie Iams, to KPTV
His son, Doug, told the station his father gave him a good life. It isn’t the first time Vancouver has honored him: The Columbian noted that Lamb served as grand marshal of the 2025 parade. This year’s grand marshal was Vietnam veteran Patrick Locke, who served in the Army infantry.
Why the parade mattered
Fewer World War II veterans are still alive to share their stories each year. Temple Lentz, president and CEO of the Historic Trust, which organized the event, told KPTV the parade gave children a chance to meet two of them. “Those kids will take that memory with them,” she said.
Hundreds of people lined the route. Spectators told reporters they came to honor family members who served, from brothers in the Army to fathers who fought in World War II and Korea. For more ways communities marked the holiday, see our guide to Veterans Day 2026.
Lamb’s story is one of several this month about members of the World War II generation being honored, including a 100-year-old veteran who finally received his service medals.
Why it matters for families
Stories like Lamb’s are a chance to talk with children about history, service and healthy habits that last a lifetime. Families can ask an older relative or neighbor about their memories, visit a local veterans memorial, or write a thank-you note to a veteran. As Lentz told KPTV, telling these stories is how communities keep their history alive.
Lamb’s December birthday is coming up, and Upstormed News will keep sharing stories of veterans and the communities that honor them.
Read more: Glenn Cunningham: The Burned Boy Told He’d Never Walk Who Became a World-Record Miler
Is there a veteran in your family whose story you’d like to share?
Sources: KPTV, “103-year-old veteran, swimmer to be honored at Vancouver Veterans Day parade” (November 10, 2026); The Columbian, “103-year-old veteran to be honored guest in Lough Legacy Veterans Day Parade” (November 10, 2026); KPTV, “Vancouver’s Veterans Day parade brings community together, recognizes 2 living WWII vets” (November 12, 2026); The Columbian, “‘Thank you for your service’: Crowds turn out to honor veterans during annual Lough Legacy Veterans Parade in Vancouver” (November 11, 2026)
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