WWII vet honored as second-longest Habitat for Humanity volunteer

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Southwest Florida is honoring a World War II veteran who’s the second-longest Habitat for Humanity volunteer.

Harold Elsesser, 91, comes in second only to Jimmy Carter, the charity’s founder. Thursday, Elsesser traveled to New York City for a national television appearance.

His plane didn’t land back in Florida until midnight, but he was back building homes at 7 a.m. Friday morning.

Elsesser was honored for volunteering with Habibat for Humanity for nearly a quarter of a century.

As part of his trip, he traveled back in time Thursday aboard the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier that is now a museum.

The U.S. Navy 2nd class electrician spent three years servicing the country from 1941-1944.

He remembers the bombs and gunfire from Japanese war planes.

Elsesser was just seventeen.

After his years at sea, he went back to Norristown, Pennsylvania. Twenty years in the produce business eventually gave way to a career as a carpenter and a business owner.

Thousands of 5 a.m. workday wake-ups later, retirement day came. But, after two weeks sitting around the house, that was more than enough.

At 65 years old, Elsesser began working again, rehabbing homes for Habitat for Humanity. Twenty-six years later, he’s still at it.