Don Halverson’s 103rd birthday is Tuesday, but the World War II vet who served in Italy celebrated a day early with the Minnesota National Guard at the 34th Infantry Division “Red Bull” Headquarters in Arden Hills. A birthday cake for World War II veteran Don Halverson birthday cake is ready f or slicing as he is honored by his old unit, the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, at the division's Arden Hills headquarters on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Halverson stays connected with his fellow service members, sometimes sharing a meal at his VFW club. Halverson was a part of the 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division (Red Bulls). He was a weapons platoon sergeant in charge of machine and motor sections while in combat in Italy from 1943 to 1945. “I figured they got me through World War II without getting hit. I got to hang with them,” joked Halverson, who lives in Brooklyn Center. Halverson said he used to get birthday and Christmas cards from his fellow WWII veterans and now when he goes to the State Fair on Veterans Day, he’s the only WWII veteran there. “Or my VFW club, I’m the only World War II veteran there. There’s a lot of them around yet, but they’re all in senior centers or somewhere,” Halverson said. Members of the 34th Infantry Division were in attendance at Halverson’s celebration Monday and took the chance to shake his hand and wish him a happy birthday. World War II veteran Don Halverson, left, explains where and when photos of him were taken (Italy in 1945) to Brigadier General Joseph Sharkey as he is honored by his old unit, the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, at the division's Arden Hills headquarters on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) “It’s esprit de corps. It’s the 34th Infantry Division in Minnesota. It’s a proud division,” said Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Sharkey, commanding general of the 34th Infantry Division. “And to hear stories from Don, what they had to endure during World War II, specifically in Italy — heaven forbid our division should see another day like that — but it’s a good reminder to our current serving soldiers that service does come with sacrifice and always be prepared for the unknown. So that’s what we do day in and day out across the state.” Halverson, who grew up in the Minneapolis area near Minnehaha Park, was drafted at the age of 20. When asked about his service, Halverson remembered one November in the mountains of Italy, walking around the cliffs to find rainwater to drink, clothes soaked through by rain and snow. “You take your helmet and sit on that so you didn’t have to lay in the mud because you had a few inches of mud in your foxhole. Then eat a couple cans of stew every day — cold stew — and lick your spoon clean, put it back in your pocket,” Halverson said. Halverson — a sergeant in the 4th Platoon, G Company, of the 1st Battalion — led a platoon of soldiers north from Naples, Italy up to the border of Switzerland. The 34th Infantry Division endured 517 days of frontline combat operations in World War II — the second most of any American division, according to the Minnesota National Guard. After the war, French General Charles de Gaulle honored the division with the “Croix de Guerre” with Palm. Upon returning to Minnesota, Halverson worked for Downtown Chevrolet and Mid-Continent Engineering until his retirement in 1988. He was married to his wife, Bernice, for more than 62 years until her death in 2010 and the couple had three children. The Minnesota National Guard also celebrated Halverson’s birthday last year when he was awarded the Order of St. George bronze medallion, He wore the medallion Monday along with the Order of St. Maurice medallion. Halverson was awarded the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Unit Badge, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, among other recognitions, before his return to Minnesota in 1945. “He was in fighting shape during World War II and clearly Don’s in fighting shape today. So, you know, it is a blessing,” Sharkey said. “I don’t think there’s many divisions, whether in the active component or in the National Guard that have living veterans from World War II that are available to tell their stories to the current generation.” Related Articles US military moves forces and equipment out of northeast Syria base Mexico and El Salvador make big cocaine seizures at sea as US continues lethal strikes Saudi Arabia may have uranium enrichment under proposed deal with US, arms control experts warn Trump warns of ‘bad things’ if Iran doesn’t make a deal, as US carrier nears Mideast Fishermen in the eastern Caribbean fear for their lives following a deadly US strike ...read more read less