Louis Tanzer is still armed with that sharp wit and zany sense of humor that’s kept him ticking all these years.
Tanzer was showing off his comedic chops on Dec. 26 during a special celebration. Having turned 105 years of age on Christmas Day, the Beverly, Massachusetts, resident is believed to be the nation’s oldest-living Marine.
The World War II veteran was surrounded by family, friends, first responders, local politicians, reporters and state officials, including a representative from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey’s office who presented him with a commendation.
After the representative finished reading the commendation, Tanzer quipped, “Will that reduce my taxes?”
There's no doubt that Tanzer’s sunny disposition has kept his engine humming for more than a century, through good times and bad.
“When you get this old, you can’t choose how you’re gonna feel the next day,” Tanzer told The Salem News. “But I’m here.”
Tanzer was born near the end of 1920 in Peabody, Massachusetts. His parents, Jewish immigrants from Russia and Romania, came to the U.S. searching for a better life. But it wasn’t always easy.
Tanzer’s father died during the Great Depression. His family was so economically strapped that his sister had to stay with a family friend for them to make ends meet. Some days, the Tanzers would simply not eat.
“The neighbors, some of them had big gardens,” Tanzer said. “We used to raid them to get an apple or a pear.”
Early Life
Tanzer graduated in 1938 from Peabody High School, now called Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.
When the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, Tanzer was set to join the Navy. There was one problem: he was rail thin. Barely tipping the scales at 121 pounds, he didn’t meet the Navy’s weight requirement.
Fortunately, he was one pound over the Marine Corps' 120-pound guideline.
The Marine could have opted for military deferment since his mother was totally deaf and depended on Tanzer’s income. However, his older brother had entered the war and Tanzer followed in 1942.
“Friends of mine were going in and my conscience was bothering me, so I enlisted at the same time they all went,” he said.
It wasn’t long after boot camp that Tanzer found himself on Funafuti, a small base in the South Pacific. He also spent time on the Marshall Islands and the Ellice Islands. Serving in the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Tanzer was promoted to staff sergeant. On the USS Altamaha, he helped ferry troops and supplies up and down the Pacific.
“They tried to sink us, but I lived through that all right. ... I don’t know if you get fearless, but your tour of duty is just an ordinary thing once you’re out there and in danger.”
He witnessed the audacity of war up close.
“There were bloody battles,” he said.
His first night on the ocean, Tanzer had to keep an eye out for enemy submarines while a mighty storm rocked the ship like a cradle.
“I got sick as a dog,” Tanzer said. “(My relief) was stuck on double duty, so I just said,' The heck with this' and laid down on the deck.”
His ship was attacked but he survived.
Post-War Reality
Following the war’s end, Tanzer returned to his hometown of Peabody and worked in tannery factories until he retired.
He married the late Roslyn Fliegel in 1951. The couple had two children, Gail and Jeff. In 1960, the family moved to Beverly, and after retirement, Tanzer and his wife enjoyed traveling around the world.
Being 105 doesn’t come with a clean bill of health, but considering his age, the World War II veteran is in relatively good condition. He has tinnitus and uses hearing aids. He relies on a walker to move around.
In his mid-80s, Tanzer was diagnosed with COPD, likely caused from years of exposure to polyurethane while producing leather shoes in the tannery.
His daughter, Gail, said X-rays show scarring on his lungs, but he “talked himself out of COPD,” ditching oxygen tanks or any other pulmonary medication.
“He’s a specimen,” she said.
Special Shoutouts
All the hubbub over his milestone birthday was a bit overwhelming for Tanzer.
Bridget and David Ball, friends from nearby Danvers, Massachusetts, spread the word about Tanzer’s celebration and more than 1,000 people across the country responded by sending him birthday cards.
He’s also received challenge coins from other veterans, including a soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor, as well as a card signed by the entire New England Patriots’ football roster. Tanzer even received a special happy birthday video call from Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“We just wanted to honor him and get him 105 cards for his birthday,” Bridget Ball said. “It’s turned into this amazing thing, and he deserves it. He’s a very humble man.”
The Balls, part of the Beverly Veterans Council, are working to get Tanzer a plaque to honor the city’s oldest living veteran. David Ball, also a veteran, posted about Tanzer’s 105th birthday on social media to draw more attention.
“I started with the president and worked my way down asking for recognition for him,” Ball said. “Most recently, I emailed with the Gary Sinise Foundation, who is recognizing him, and the Navy SEAL Museum in Florida sent him a card. It’s just incredible.”
Digging into some research, the Balls discovered Tanzer is among rare company for World War II veterans.
“I believe he is the oldest living Marine veteran,” Bridget Ball said.
When asked if he has any secrets to longevity, Tanzer joked, thinking about his days in the Depression.
“Don’t eat.”
