| Constantin Hertoiu | |
 Hertoiu (aged 101) in October 2015. | |
| Birth: | 28 February 1914 Valcea County, Romania |
| Death: | 28 February 2023 Caineni, Valcea County, Romania |
| Age: | 109 years, 0 days |
| Country: |  ROU
|
| Centenarian | |
Constantin Hertoiu [Romanian: Herţoiu] (28 February 1914 – 28 February 2023) was a Romanian centenarian who was the second-oldest known living person in Romania and the second-oldest living World War II veteran in Romania, behind Ilie Ciocan. He fought on the front and was held prisoner in the Soviet Union for five years.
Biography[]
Constantin Hertoiu was born in Valcea County, Romania, on 28 February 1914. His family fled from the Austro-Hungarian war and his birthplace is unknown. When he was two years old, he got typhus, but he successfully survived. During the first world war, one day, an Austrian or Hungarian soldier came in by force and threw a massif metal pipes with gunpowder in his temporary fireplace and he took fire.
He joined the military 1936. In 1941, they received orders to attack Prut, but the Russians were ready and attacked back. Constantin was far back in the convoy and could flee.
In 1943, after the siege of Stalingrad (today Volgograd), he was captured by the Russians. They took him to Siberia where he worked in a coal mine for five years. He worked eight hours per day without pay with too little food. This time, he learned to speak russian.
In 1948, he came to Caineni in Romania with train. He got married 1950 with Loana and had six children: three daughters and three sons (one daughter deceased as of November 2020). The other five are still alive. Loana died around 2004.
In September 2020, he was among those decorated with Royal Medal for Loyalty by Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania, making him the oldest person ever who had received a Romanian royal distinction.
Constantin Hertoiu died in Caineni, Valcea County, Romania, on 28 February 2023, his 109th birthday.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Vâlceanul Constantin Herţoiu, veteran al celui de-Al Doilea Război Mondial, a împlinit 101 ani Ziarul de Vâlcea, 7 March 2015
- Constantin Herțoiu, 101 ani, viața în cuvinte Oameni de poveste, 28 October 2015
- Emoţionanta poveste a românului de 106 ani decorat de Casa Regală. Cine este Constantin Herţoiu Adevarul, 15 November 2020
- La mulți ani cu sănătate domnule Căpitan Gabriel Manole on Facebook, 28 February 2021
- Veteranul de război Constantin Herțoiu a împlinit astăzi 108 ani Glasul Cetății, 28 February 2022
- Ei sunt oamenii pentru care trebuie să avem cel mai mare respect: VETERANUL CONSTANTIN „DINU” HERȚOIU împlinește 109 ani Curierul de Vâlcea, 27 February 2023
- 🇷🇴 Constantin Herțoiu (28.02.1914 - 28.02.2023) Uniti sub tricolor on Facebook, 28 February 2023
- Veteranul de război Constantin Herțoiu a trecut la cele veșnice astăzi, chiar în ziua în care a împlinit 109 ani Glasul Cetății, 28 February 2023
- Vâlceanul Constantin Herțoiu, cel mai vârstnic român decorat de familia regală a murit în ziua în care a împlinit 109 ani Ziarul de Vâlcea, 5 March 2023