Blake Hall
A vintage photograph posted by Derek Schwendeman on Reddit unveiled one of America’s most powerful secret weapons–a hunkalicious Korean War veteran with a smile bright enough to blind.
“In 1950, Korea witnessed the most sparkly white teeth to be ever seen by mankind,” a user wrote in the thread’s most upvoted comment.
“All I have to say is that stunner is why we are straining the social security system…no wonder there was a baby boom! amirite ladies amirite,” another wrote.
Thomas Schwendeman, now 86, left for basic training and Ranger School in 1951. According to his grandson, Schwendeman served in the 40th Infantry Division and was deployed in Korea for a year.
During the war, the 40th Infantry Division fought in the Battles of Sandbag Castle and Heartbreak Ridge. About 376 members of the unit were killed in action, and nearly 1,500 were wounded. Schwendeman probably played a role in these battles before leaving the service.
After returning home, he enjoyed a long career as a telephone repairman and public school bus driver and an even longer marriage to his wife Fleecie.
The couple has been married for 65 years, during which they had three kids and six grandkids.
Derek told PEOPLE that his grandparents are amused by all this attention.
“My grandmother says since they married young, he didn’t have much of a chance to ‘sow his wild oats.’ She told me that he has ‘women fussing over him all of the time, but she got him first.’ ” Derek said.
Here’s what this Korean War veteran looks like today.
