A 99-year-old World War II veteran has made a new career for himself writing children’s books ARTICLE.

A 99-year-old World War II veteran has made a new career for himself writing children’s books. Sam Baker, 99, from Scottsdale, Arizona, joined the Marine Corps in 1942, just four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. When he returned to civilian life in the fall of 1947, Baker joined the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, which is now the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Baker worked for NOAA for 30 years before he retired. At the age of 95, Baker decided to take up writing. Baker told Fox News Digital that his son encouraged him to write his first children’s book which was published in 2018. The book is based on stories Baker used to tell his children about a worm named Herman when they were growing up. In 2020, Baker published his second book, "Oscar the Mouse," based on Baker’s own childhood. Baker said he was inspired to write children’s books to encourage kids to read. "Reading is a foundation for all other learning," Baker said. "If you don’t know how to read, you’re going to have a hard time learning." "If I could just get one child to learn to read, that would be worth all the problems and the costs," Baker added. "I’m not making any money. I don’t want to make money. I want children to learn to read."