CENTERVILLE, Ga. — While we're continuing holiday celebrations and getting ready for the new year, we're also celebrating a very special birthday!
Calvin Smith is a World War II Veteran who turned 100 on Friday, December 29.
The mantra he's lived by for a century is: "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you."
Smith was born in Maytown, Pennsylvania in 1923 to Herbert Calvin Smith and Rhoda Lorita Smith.
After graduating from East Donegal High School in 1941, he started on a pre-med track in college before quitting after one semester.
He wanted to join the army after his older brother was drafted in 1941, but their mom wouldn't let Calvin go.
Smith said he worked a civil service job to get his teeth fixed in the meantime, before enlisting in July of 1942.
According to Smith's bio, "he served in WWII in the Army Air Corps. He was a Squadron communications officer in the 396th squadron of the 368th fighter group and served in six major European campaigns – specifically in 1944 the following Air Offensive Europe, Air Offensive Normandy, Air Offensive France, Air Offensive Ardennes, then in 1945 Air Offensive Rhineland, Air Offensive Central Europe. He served in the Air Force Reserves following the war and received an honorable discharge in 1957 with the rank of Captain."
Smith was awarded one Oak Leaf Cluster and 6 Battle Stars for his WWII service.
After serving in World War II, he returned home and married the love of his life - Shirley Seiders on September 29, 1959.
On August 1, 1966, they moved to Warner Robins from Pennsylvania to "work with Service Engineering Division in charge of missiles on Robins Air Force Base. The major one was the Sidewinder, a tactical air to air missile installed on every fire aircraft in the Air Force, navy, and Marines," according to his bio.
They had four sons together: Dennis, Darryl, Dwayne and David.
After Seiders passed away about a decade ago, Smith has lived on his own in Warner Robins.
Emotions were high for him as he celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by folks from the community, service members and loved ones.
"The main thing in your life is your family," Smith said.
He said they are his most valuable asset.
"My parents were poor, we grew up poor," Smith recalled. "Everybody helped everybody else. It's not much like that anymore."
"There's not a lot of kindness in the world now, and if you can show kindness to others, then that's just the best blessing you can bestow upon anybody, even if they're not the kindest to you," Smith's one and only grandson, Jesse, said.
The 14-year-old admires grandpa for his 46 years of service, especially for his duties during the war.
"He's just done so much," Jesse said. "He willingly put his life on the line, he enlisted in the war himself, he wasn't drafted or anything. So, him wanting to serve others is very respectful and selfless of him."
Jesse called it a blessing that his grandpa has accomplished so much in life and has made it this far.
"I believe that God has been with him all these years, and I trust in Him, and I know he can live many more years," Jesse said.
As for Smith's secret to a century-long life?
"Just be agreeable, don't complain about everything, drink a lot of water, listen to your doctors, and just be good to your neighbors," he said.
From all of us at 13WMAZ and central Georgia - happy birthday, Calvin!