Doug Starr is among a vanishing breed.
The Sioux Falls man is just one of 55 known World War II veterans living in South Dakota, according to National WWII Museum data. Nationwide, 30,600 veterans remain.
At 101, Starr’s life does not read like a Hollywood action movie packed with flashy stunts. Instead, it is something much rarer and more profound: a quiet, unyielding testament to a century well-lived. Having survived two wars, earned three university degrees, built a 36-year academic career and raised a family, Starr carries his history with a sharp mind, a ready smile and a characteristic humility.
He cannot move around as easily as he used to, but his perspective remains clear as a bell. This Veterans Day, his story stands as tribute to the endurance of the Greatest Generation – not because he seeks the spotlight, but because his ordinary, extraordinary life is worth remembering.
