DAVENPORT, Iowa (WHBF) – Vincent Martinez, a resilient 99-year-old World War II veteran, is still delighting the people of Davenport, Iowa, with his culinary skills, a craft he mastered during his time in the Navy.

Each week, Martinez dedicates time to cooking for others, a passion sparked during his Navy service in World War II. At merely 17, he began by assisting in the kitchen, washing pots and pans, and soon after, his enthusiasm and diligence led him to become a cook.

“I found joy in preparing meals for people,” Martinez shared, reflecting on his enduring commitment to the art of cooking.

While Martinez’s Navy career was cut short due to a severe car accident that resulted in an 11-month hospital stay, it did not deter his culinary ambitions.

Nowadays, Martinez incorporates fresh ingredients from his garden and the QC Veteran Outreach Center to whip up homemade delights such as salsa and bread pudding, which he generously shares with those at the outreach center.

His rum-infused bread pudding has particularly won the hearts of many at the center, even converting those who initially thought they wouldn’t like it.

His contributions bring laughter, good meals, and companionship to the community, embodying the spirit of generosity and service he learned during his time in the Navy.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published