Century Milestone: Fargo WWII Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday

Leland Jensen turned 100 years old on Friday, Oct. 30, in a city where the final World Series of the year has recently concluded. The Fargo resident, a survivor of World War II, celebrated the milestone at the Fryin' Pan restaurant, where family members transformed a banquet room into a gathering space for the occasion.

Jensen joined the Army Air Corps at age 18 in 1945, shortly after graduating from Central High School in Fargo. His son, Tom Jensen, recalled a specific moment from the war's end, noting that a plane with a banner announcing the victory flew over the Fargo train depot when Leland returned home. Tom displayed old photographs during the party to illustrate that era.

The veteran chose a deployment to Italy over Panama, citing the mosquito population in the latter location. He served with American servicemen who assisted in rebuilding the country. Jensen has been a member of the American Legion for 80 years, a tenure he cited with pride during the celebration.

The event included balloons and interactions with great-grandchildren. Jensen reflected on his service history, describing his survival as fortunate. The gathering served as a tribute to one of the remaining World War II veterans in the Fargo community.

Jensen was born in the same year Babe Ruth hit three home runs in the World Series between the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals. He remains active in local veteran organizations and continues to share his military experiences with family and community members.