Anonymous Donor Rescues 100-Year-Old WWII Veteran Stranded Far From Home

October 1, 2025

Bill Shea, a 100-year-old World War II veteran from Harrow, Ontario, was greeted with cheers, waves, and warm smiles as an ambulance pulled up to Harrow Legion Branch 338.

Friends, family, and legion members had gathered to welcome back the man they hadn’t seen in over a month.

Bill Shea (center) / CTV News

Just weeks earlier, Shea’s family feared he might never make it back. After falling ill from an Alaskan cruise in August, he was hospitalized with a bladder infection, pneumonia, and kidney issues. His care required a specialized medical flight costing nearly $60,000 — a cost that Veterans Affairs declined to cover.

After seeing his story on the news, an anonymous donor stepped forward and paid for the entire flight.

Shea arrived in Windsor Monday evening after a month in a B.C. hospital.

For members at his local legion branch, as one of the region’s last Second World War veterans, he’s been missed.

“To the person that donated the money, you’re an angel. We needed him back home. We missed him a lot,” said Branch 338 President Paul Chartier.