BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — It was a day filled with laughs and gratitude in Bloomington as the community celebrated a big birthday. A World War II combat veteran from Minnesota turned 100 years old.
There is no shortage of pictures or stories when you meet Lt. Jim Rasmussen. That’s not a surprise after being around for 100 years.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is the fact I got this far. It’s one of those things I never thought I’d do,” Rasmussen said. “Normally when you celebrate something at 100 years, it’s a memorial.”
The Twin Cities honored the Edina native who flew 32 missions with the Bloody 100th Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force during World War II.
“We were just crazy, we were nuts because we were so thankful that you finally came and you rescued us. And I want to thank you for that,” said an audience member who was in Germany during the war.
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Rasmussen’s passion to serve started as young as 17.