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The US's Oldest Marine Just Celebrated His 105th Birthday

The US's Oldest Marine Just Celebrated His 105th Birthday

The birthday of Major Bill White was marked with a special drive-by salute

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

The US's oldest living Marine has just celebrated his 105th birthday.

Major Bill White hit the impressive mile stone this weekend with the occasion marked by a special drive-by birthday salute.

When asked how it felt to be turning 105, Major White told News4SA: "Feels just as good as it did at 104." What a guy.

News4SA

The former Marine lives at the Oaks at Inglewood, an assisted living facility in Stockton, California.

He sat outside in his uniform this weekend while a parade of vehicles went by and visitors turned up to wish him well.

Tony Walker, the communication director at the Oaks at Inglewood, told News4SA: "He was in Shanghai before WWII and the Japanese invasion and all that.

"Iwo Jima got hit - blown up with a grenade. Recovered from that. Spent a total of 30 years in the Marine Corps. Just an amazing guy."

Bill's family were delighted to be able to celebrate his special day - having been unable to visit much in recent times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

His daughter Mary Huston told the news outlet: "It's very heartwarming and very and it just does get to you that there are so many people that love him and appreciate him for his service."

News4SA

Major White credits his long life to keeping his mind sharp by reading. Meanwhile, he's already looking forward to his next birthday, telling News4SA: "Right now I'm trying for 106."

Bill hit headlines earlier this year, when he asked for a few Valentine's Day cards and was inundated with thouands of messages right across the world.

As well as messages from New Zealand, Australia, Russia and across the US, Bill also got a special note from US President Donald Trump and NASA sent him a photo and a special plaque.

But Bill said the messages that meant the most to him came from a group of Marines who were stationed at 29 Palms Marine Corps Base.

His daughter told CBS: "They don't have paper out in the field so they used the cardboard from the MRE's which are meals ready to eat.

"They hand-decorated them for my dad. There's about a thousand of them."

An extremely grateful Bill added: "There's so many. All I can think of to say is, 'Thank you, everyone.' Period."

Featured Image Credit: News4SA

Topics: US News

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