101-Year-Old Decoder Shares War Stories and Life Wisdom with Kids

When a group of children asked 101-year-old Alice what life was like "in the old days," they got much more than they bargained for.

Alice sat down with kids from HiHo Kids, an online platform that encourages children to learn through curiosity and play. The questions ranged from silly to profound, and Alice met each one with warmth and honesty.

"We didn't have radio. No television. We didn't have telephones when I was a little girl," Alice explained. "There were not any trucks. They had wagons, and horses pulled them."

Then came the bigger questions. When asked about war, Alice revealed something remarkable: she worked as a decoder in World War II, handling top-secret information. "The officers had guns, and they said if you told any of the secrets, they would shoot you dead," she told the wide-eyed children, before quickly adding, "But nobody got shot."

Alice lit up talking about her career as a biology professor, pointing to insect brooches on her shirt. Her favorite? Ants, which she researched extensively.

One girl named Clara was equally fascinated, explaining how three tiny ants could carry a banana. "You're very good, and you're only six years old!" Alice exclaimed.

Sunny's Take

The most moving moment came when a child asked if Alice feared dying. "No, I'm not afraid of dying," she said calmly. "I feel very healthy and happy. My doctor said, 'Maybe you'll just die in your sleep.' So I'm not afraid, because I have a good life."

She acknowledged the hard parts too. "You miss people," she admitted. "Most of the people I ever knew, and in my family, are dead."

At 101, Alice still does everything herself: writing books, playing Scrabble, emailing friends, exercising daily, and watching the Olympics. When young Micah heard this, he beamed: "That's good! That means you're really old, but you're really good at it."

Her secret to longevity? "Being happy, working hard, getting exercise, doing things for yourself, not expecting other people to do everything for you."

Comments flooded the video's social media posts. A geriatric nurse praised Alice's mental sharpness: "Her brain is freaking amazing for 101." Others celebrated her remarkable war service: "She was a freaking decoder! These kids don't even know the titan they're sitting across from them."

One viewer summed it up perfectly: "She's absolutely magical with the children. What a gift to introduce these kids to Alice."