jamie wax has his story. >> reporter: after more than a century, you might think lawrence brooks had gotten just about every kind of birthday present imaginable. ♪ happy birthday to you >> reporter: but at america's oldest world war ii vet, this year came with an unexpected gift, which came with a call from louisiana governor john bel edwards. right before he hung up, he said, let me know if there's anything i can do for you. you said -- >> my roof is leaking. >> my roof is leaking. this is a lesson in taking an opportunity. >> yeah, yeah. there was vegetation growing out of the existing roof. there was obviously deficient framing. >> reporter: kevin griffin and jason engels were part of a louisiana-based team tapped by the governor's office to help lawrence brooks fix shotty repair work done after hurricane katrina. doz dozens of volunteers replaced the roof, no questions asked. >> the governor's words were fix the home and roof as if it were your own, and that's what we did. >> brooks wuas drafted into the second world war in the then still segregated u.s. army. brooks served overs

at 111 years old, lawrence brooks has a unique place among surviving world war ii veterans.e needed a hand. >> reporter: after more than a century, you might think lawrence brooks had gotten just about every kind of birthday present imaginable. ♪ happy birthday >> reporter: but as america's oldest known living world war ii vet at 111, his birthday this september came with an unexpected gift, which began with a call from louisiana governor john bel edwards. >> right before he hung up, he said to you let me know if there's anything i can do for you. >> right. >> and you said? >> my roof is leaking. >> my roof is leaking. >> yes. >> this is a lesson in taking an opportunity, right? >> right, yeah, yeah. >> initially being on scene it was a nightmare. there was vegetation coming out of the existing roof. >> reporter: kevin and jason were part of a louisiana-based team tapped by the governor's office to help lawrence brooks fix shoddy repair work done after hurricane katrina. dozens of community carpenter volunteers answered the call. they fully replaced brooks' roof, no question