98-year-old WWII veteran moves in with neighbors who have treated him like family for 20 years: ‘They adopted me’
Sometimes, the people who start as neighbors end up becoming family.
After more than two decades of living next door, Ross Longo has officially moved in with the family he has come to consider his own. The 98-year-old World War II and Korean War veteran recently moved into the Lake Placid, Florida, home of Sevastian Munguia-Barajas and his parents, turning a longtime neighborly relationship into something closer to family.
“They adopted me, and I adopted them,” Longo told the New York Post. Munguia-Barajas, 26, described their relationship just as warmly: “I consider him my grandpa, honestly.”
According to Munguia-Barajas’s GoFundMe page, his family had helped care for Longo for years before moving him into their home. As he grew older and found everyday activities increasingly difficult to manage independently, the family decided that bringing him under their roof would allow them to provide better care and support.
The friendship had already attracted attention online. Munguia-Barajas began sharing videos of their everyday outings through the TikTok and Instagram account @your98yearoldvet. What started with ordinary trips to breakfast and the grocery store quickly reached a much wider audience. He shared that one of their first videos amassed a million views overnight.
Their everyday friendship has reached far beyond the neighborhood
The account, featuring Longo as “Ross the Vet,” documents everything from fast-food outings and holiday celebrations to the veteran’s advice and stories. But the pair’s videos are not only about their own relationship. They have also used their growing audience to help other veterans.
In their posts, the two brought a birthday cake to a Vietnam veteran living alone and battling cancer. They also donated Longo’s used recliners and scooter to other veterans in Highlands County. Munguia-Barajas also received a Good Neighbor Grant from the nonprofit Fosters Outriders for his community work.
The move has also brought practical expenses. On the family’s GoFundMe page, Munguia-Barajas explained that donations help cover Longo’s groceries, meals, personal supplies, caregiving assistance and other costs associated with his care. He added that the family had to purchase furniture and household items to make Longo’s new room comfortable and safe.
Longo’s life before becoming “Ross the Vet”
Longo’s story dates back to 1943, decades before the videos that made him recognizable online. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was just 15, after claiming to be older than he was. He served for six and a half years, serving as a soldier during World War II and Korea during the Korean War.
His time in Korea included a serious accident. After jumping from a landing craft, he unknowingly landed in a bomb crater and was later knocked unconscious. Munguia-Barajas told the New York Post that Longo broke eight ribs in that incident.
After leaving the Navy, Longo worked as a truck driver and carpenter before briefly pursuing country music. He eventually settled in Lake Placid, Florida, where he lived next door to the Munguia-Barajas family for more than 20 years before moving into their home.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
Follow The Mary Sue:
