World War II veteran Vernon “Hook” Christensen celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday, surrounded by roughly 120 to 150 family members, friends, and local community members at Morgan Creek Park in Cedar Rapids, according to reporting by The Gazette. The milestone gathering brought together guests ranging from newborns to septuagenarians, including local business workers and church acquaintances who frequently interact with Christensen.
A Century of Community and Celebration
The turnout at Morgan Creek Park exceeded expectations for the centenarian. “You wouldn’t think I know most of these people, but I do,” Christensen told The Gazette. “I love people. People like me too, I guess.”
Guests at the pavilion enjoyed a spread of sandwiches, baked beans, and fruit while Christensen’s son Gary provided live guitar music. Attendees also browsed photo albums documenting Christensen’s life, which included his early days as a mechanic, stock-car racer, and welder.
Marcia Dunn, one of Christensen’s daughters, noted that the crowd included everyday acquaintances such as a waitress and gas station attendants from businesses her father frequents. Robin Himes, a fellow congregant at Church at Covington, told The Gazette that Christensen often shares stories about his early racing days, which began at age 14 when his boss helped him buy a car to commute to work.
Wartime Service and Cross-Country Memories
Before his deployment, a 15-year-old Christensen rode a motorcycle across the country to California without a driver’s license. Having started welder training at age 13, he sought higher wages in California shipyards—aiming for $3.60 an hour rather than his $1.05 rate in Harlan, according to The Gazette. During the cross-country trip amid World War II rationing, he secured free gas from farmers by trading rides on his motorcycle for their children.
At age 18, Christensen attempted to enlist in the Navy but discovered he was already on the Army’s draft list, as reported by The Gazette. He was subsequently shipped to Japan, arriving as part of the initial troops after waiting three days at sea for an atomic bomb to fall.
Reflecting on his life’s milestones, Christensen told The Gazette that his marriage to his first wife, Jeanne, and the birth of his first child ranked as his top two life moments. His third-greatest memory, he said, was visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during an Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.
Family and Patriotism Recognized
To celebrate his strong patriotic spirit, grandson Brian Dunn traveled 11 consecutive hours from Colorado to present Christensen with a red-and-white banner reading, “I love the USA.” Dunn told The Gazette that his grandfather’s generosity defined his role as a family patriarch.
“If you need help, he’ll help you,” Dunn said. “If you need a dollar, he’ll give you a dollar. He wants everyone around him to have a wonderful time.”
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