Green Bay Pearl Harbor Veteran Celebrates His 104th Birthday

Rolland Briar, a resident at senior living community Dimensions Living® Green Bay and surviving Pearl Harbor Navy veteran, celebrated his 104th birthday on Wednesday. Dozens of his close friends, family members, and Dimensions Living Green Bay team members joined him to celebrate his long and historic life.

Briar enlisted in the United States Navy in February 1941. On December 7, 1941, he was on the deck of the USS Whiteney, waiting for a motor launch to take him to Ford Island for church services when the attack on Pearl Harbor took place. His ship had no battle stations, so he and his fellow servicemen were ordered to go below deck at the onset of the battle. After the sounds of explosions subsided, he helped reassign survivors to other ships. He continued to serve in the military throughout World War II.

“Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate my birthday, I really appreciate it,” Briar said. “I’ve lived a long and good life, so I’m thankful to continue to spend my time around great people.”

Dimensions Living Green Bay is managed by Health Dimensions Group® (HDG®), a leading senior living, post-acute, and long-term care management and consulting firm based in Minneapolis, Minn.