A 100‑year‑old World War II veteran has become the oldest‑known organ donor in the US history, demonstrating that exceptional organ health can make donation possible even at a very advanced age. Dale Steele, a Nebraska‑born US Army veteran, donated his liver after death in February 2026, saving another person's life and setting a new national record.

Steele served in Europe during World War II and remained physically active and healthy into his late 90s. When he succumbed to a fatal head injury, transplant teams assessed his liver based on its functional viability rather than rejecting the organ due to advanced age. His family said donation was in keeping with his lifelong sense of service.

Such donations demonstrate that advanced age cannot be an absolute contraindication when an organ remains suitable for transplant, while also helping to expand the donor pool.