WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday in Morton Grove
MORTON GROVE, Ill. — It’s not often we get to accept a birthday invitation, but in the case of Stan Spillar — Who turned 100 Saturday — We couldn’t resist.
Spillar and close friends and family were found inside the American Legion post 134 in Morton Grove, gathered for a celebration of a remarkable life, and the mark he made on history.
“I spent a lot of time in Europe,” Spillar said. “We were fighting with the Germans.”
Spillar was a military veteran of the European theater in World War II, where he fought in several important conflicts, including the largest battle of the war — The Battle of the Bulge.
When asked about his experiences serving on the front lines of World War II, you could almost guess his response.
“What can I tell you?” Spillar mused. “They were shelling the h*ll out of the Germans … I had to dive for that foxhole That I was in. That was a son of a…”
Spillar spent his time running back and forth saving lives on the front line as a medic, and by the end of his tour of duty in World War II, he had earned five medals, including a Bronze Star.
“We are very proud Americans,” said Cyndy Spillar, one of Stan’s daughters. “Always have been because of our father.”
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