Marine Veteran, Sergeant William Carr, Celebrates 90th Birthday

WESTBOROUGH, MA—It's a photographic capture of quiet pride and dignity.

The Westborough Police Department this week provided "backup" to Westborough resident and former Marine Staff Sergeant William Carr, and shared these touching photos of the incident. On his 90th birthday, Carr wanted to take a quick stroll between rain clouds. It was unsuccessful, so officers got him out of the rain and gave him a ride.

Carr enlisted in 1946 in the Marinesafter graduating from Athol High School, and went to Parris Island for training, reports the Community Advocate. He served in the Atlantic and Caribbean and was honorably discharged in 1948 and qualified for the World War II Victory Medal.

He attended UMass Amherst to earn a degree in forestry and handled logistics working with NASA on the Apollo 11 mission. Now legally blind, he eventually got his master's in military history, and published a book "A Pact With the Devil" several years ago.

The book describes the progress of aerial combat from 1914-1918 and contains biographies of famous pilots and airplanes of WWI. It also shows how the aviation industry grew and evolved. Carr details his personal connection through his father, who was a pilot in the 1930s.

Watch Carr speaking about his book at Tatnuck Bookseller in 2014.

"This honor provided us an opportunity to wish a direct happy birthday wish and thank you to the Marine Corps through Staff Sergeant Carr," wrote Westborough police.

Photos via Westborough police