WWII veteran learns to read at 89

It's never to late to learn to read.

Ed Bray is an American hero. The 89-year-old WWII vet landed at Normandy on D-Day, won two Purple Hearts among his dozen-plus medals, dedicated much of his civilian life to refuelling Air Force plans — and had a long, happy marriage to his wife of 62 years.

But when his wife died in 2009, the Cookson, Oklahoma man was left to face his final foe: illiteracy.

"The toughest thing that ever happened to me in my life was not being able to read," he tells CBS News.

"I've covered this up for 80 years. Nobody in this town knows I can't read."

Bray's wife had covered for him at home. A coworker helped him with his paperwork. Over the years, people had tried to teach him to read, but either the teacher or the student would give up before much was accomplished.

Now, at 89, Bray is determined to finally conquer reading.

"I want to read one book," he says. "I don't care if it's about Mickey Mouse. I want to read one book before I die."

A friend suggested Bray contact Tobi Thompson, a professor of reading education at Oklahoma's Northeastern State University.

Thompson asked him to visit and chat a couple times a week. Soon after, she introduced flash cards to their conversations.

Last week, Bray read a book, a third-grade-level biography of George Washington.

"It makes me feel good," Bray tells CBS News.

As Bray continues to advance his reading skills, he offers words of wisdom to others like him:

"Get in there and learn, baby. Now! 'Cause you ain't going to learn in that pine box," Bray encourages.

It's never too late to learn.

Last summer, a 73-year-old Quebec man learned to read and write. His first handwritten letter was a thank-you note sent to his daughter for encouraging him to do so.

And in 2011, a 98-year-old Connecticut man, who had been illiterate until the age of 96, wrote his first book.