Reaching 100 years old has long been a goal for World War II veteran Richard King, but he wasn't sure he would actually make it.
"I really was sweating out the last six years, and not really saying anything to the kids or my family about it, more or less hoping I would do it," King said at his 100th birthday party Thursday in Woodbury.
Around 60 people filled a lounge area for King's party at the New Perspective assisted living facility in Woodbury, including friends and family members. Still, he's part of a rapidly shrinking cohort — only about 1% of the 16 million Americans to serve in the military during World War II were still living as of 2022.
King didn't offer secrets to reaching that milestone other than advising, "Don't smoke, drink or chase women." But one constant in King's life has been staying busy, whether it was during his time in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a gunner, or running his business.
He was born in Minnesota on June 5, 1923, and grew up working on farms, but he was always interested in flying planes.
"I read every book there is about airplanes; it became my hobby," King said.
At his party, posters showed King posing with other military crewmates during the war and with planes. Asked why he joined the military, he said it was to find a way to fly and to get out to see more of the world, not so much a desire to fight.
"I don't think there were any heroics in there at all. I think it was more or less just a kid off the farm," he said.