Joe Medina waved to all those who sang happy birthday to him as he celebrated his 102nd birthday Tuesday at Cerenity Senior Care in St. Paul.
Medina's family came to the United States from Mexico with Medina when he was 5. He worked in Minnesota's sugar beet and meatpacking plants most of his life. Later, he worked as a bus driver for the CLUES nonprofit group and was one of the founding members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
Medina, who enlisted in the Army during World War II, served in the Pacific as part of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's Eighth Army.
Joining Medina were were great-grandchildren Gracie Leon and Sophia LaManna, as well as his children Glorida Mendez and Michael Medina.
"I've been tired for the last two years," Joe Medina said afterwards.
