IT WAS QUITE the 100th birthday party for World War II veteran George Mullins.
Hundreds of family members and friends turned out for a potluck at the KOA Center in Benbow to celebrate Mullins’ life and his service in the fight against Nazi Germany. Along with savory food and wine, there were platters of cupcakes, each with a little American flag on top.
For days after the party, Mullins remained energized by the celebration with family and long-time friends.
“Meeting so many people that I’ve known for years — and it was the first time I’ve seen them in years,” Mullins said. “I had grandkids that I didn’t even know of or recognize.”
Born on April 29, 1925, in Jenkins, Kentucky, Mullins grew up on a small farm in Virginia’s Appalachian region. The second of 11 children, Mullins and his siblings learned what it was like to live entirely off the land and fend for themselves. At the height of the Great Depression, the family grew nearly everything they needed to survive.
Their home was in the rural town of Pound, Virginia, where Mullins first fell in love with farming, growing his own crops, and living among nature.
“We had a small farm. We grew sweet potatoes, lots of beans, apples—just about every kind of vegetable,” Mullins said in an interview.
But life took a sharp turn when World War II came along. Mullins joined the army and ended up in the 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles,” where, at just 19, he served in the Allies’ D-Day invasion of Normandy Beach, a critical turning point in the war.
Following D-Day, Mullins was part of other significant missions, including the liberation of Carentan, the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, and the Operation Market Garden airborne assault in the Netherlands. Near the end of his service, he helped guard captured Nazi soldiers near Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest in Berchtesgaden, Germany.
For his bravery, Mullins was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the Legion of Honor and the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart is an honorary award given to those who have been wounded or killed while serving in the U.S. military.
‘You can’t get it off your mind’
Despite feeling deep gratitude for his time in the armed forces and with his comrades-in-arms, the trauma of World War II deeply haunted Mullins for many years. In bed at night, he was plagued by images of war.
“Where it really affected me was in my sleep,” Mullins explained. “I’d be awake the next morning, still thinking about it. You can’t get it off your mind.”
To offset the anxieties fueled by the trauma of war, Mullins — along with help from former Marine and longtime friend Jay Biancalana — wrote a personal narrative about his journey on the beaches of Normandy. The book, called “Foxhole,” was released in July 2021 and recounts Mullins’ experiences as a soldier in the war — a detailed look at the events, the friendships he formed with fellow soldiers and the grief he endured in saying goodbye to them.
The heroics of Mullins and his fellow soldiers are still commemorated in Europe, and every May Mullins and Biancalana travel to France to attend the D-Day Festival Normandy — a multi-day event featuring reenactments of the war, concerts, military parades and fireworks.
Unfazed by his century of living, Mullins will travel again to Europe for the D-Day Festival in just a few weeks. During these events, he and other World War II veterans, active-duty military, and dignitaries will visit cemeteries throughout Europe to honor soldiers who died in the war. While the trips are celebratory and honor the veterans who fought, they are also sad moments for those who served.
“We visit cemeteries, and we look up the boys who got killed in the end,” Mullins said. “One time when I was at those cemeteries, I looked up and saw that everyone was crying.”
Biancalana, who acts these days as a caretaker for Mullins, said the trips remind them both of extremely harrowing times, adding that Mullins himself has often been moved to tears at the graves of fallen soldiers.
“What it does for George is it brings back thoughts about the guys who were killed by snipers,” Biancalana said. “It is an overtly overwhelming experience. With George, you can see the emotion coming out of him at that gravesite. These are your brothers in arms.”
‘Take care of your body, your health’
Along with being an honored World War II veteran and a published writer, Mullins is also an experienced gardener, former logger and fisherman. While sitting in his quaint house on Oak Street, accompanied by Biancalana, and his loving border collie-McNab shepherd mix, Captain, Mullins said he occasionally feels a bit cynical about getting older.
“I didn’t think there’s anything good about it,” Mullins said with a playful snicker.
Still sharp and articulate, though hard of hearing, Mullins shared some life advice he believes younger generations should hear. He said one of the most important things he has focused on is his physical well-being. “The most important thing you can do is take care of your body, your health,” he emphasized.
Mullins also spoke about love and how to find happiness when searching for a life partner.
“I think most people, not all people, want a partner. A man, or a woman. If they make a mistake, and if they don’t agree, don’t just stay in the relationship,” Mullins said. “In other words, don’t try to change people.”
When asked about his last loves — his three former wives — Mullins said he thinks of them every minute of every day.
“One important thing in your life is that if you’re unhappy in your marriage, it’s time wasted,” he added. “You don’t get that time back, be very careful who you marry. It can really cause complications when you’re married to a person.”
“I am 100 years old, and I am worried about this future. They haven’t seen what I’ve seen.”
George Mullins
Mullins said he’s saddened about the direction in which the United States is heading. A committed Democrat, he said he’s very concerned by the administration in Washington.
“History repeats itself. I’ve seen that as truth in a lot of situations,” Mullins said. “I am 100 years old, and I am worried about this future. They haven’t seen what I’ve seen.”
And yet, despite such concerns, Mullins has a generally positive outlook on life, an outlook rooted in his own rich experiences.
“I’ve fulfilled so many of my dreams,” he said. “Dreams that I had — that I wanted to do.”
This story originally appeared in The Mendocino Voice.
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