Touching video shows naval officers give big surprise to WWII vet

GARDENA, Calif. — It was the surprise of a lifetime for a World War II vet, who said he was "having one of the best days of his life" after a group of naval officers honored the vet outside his home.%

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Ernest Thompson, 98, said he was on board the USS Tennessee during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was on the USS Missouri as a witness to the official surrender of imperial Japanese forces.
 
As the years went on, he would visit the USS Iowa on a regular basis. But due to health reasons, Thompson can no longer take the trek to the battleship.
 
"Being a World War II vet, there's hardly any of us left anymore. So all of us that's still living, we are all still heroes," Thompson told KTLA-TV.

After learning about Thompson's inability to get to the ship, the chief selects from the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center visited Thompson's home and sang the Navy's march song, "Anchors Aweigh" in the middle of his residential street.

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As the men sang, Thompson stood on his front porch and saluted the men.

“It was really a surprise. Yeah. They marched up the street here and stopped out in front and sang a bunch of Navy songs,"

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After the naval officers got done singing, they lined up in a line and, one by one, shook Thompson's hand and thanked him for his service.

Before leaving, the officers gave Thompson with a special plaque in honor of his service – complete with teakwood from the deck of the USS Iowa, giving him a piece of the battleship he loves.

His family says Thompson still has a smile on his face from the visit. An honor for a member of the Greatest Generation.

Cox Media Group