(FOX40.COM) — On Saturday, Oakmont of Roseville near Sacramento, California, will be celebrating one of its residents that is reaching a major lifetime milestone and celebrating his lifetime of service to the United States.
Ray Anwyl, 99, will be celebrating his 100th birthday on Saturday. He served in the United States Air Force/Army Air Corps for 11 years during WWII and the Korean War.
Born in Iowa, Anwyl would learn to fly before he could even drive and would man the controls of some of the most iconic aircraft of U.S. military history.
After earning his wings, Anwyl piloted the Martin B-26 Marauder during WWII and during the Korean War flew the iconic North American P-51 Mustang.
During his 11 years of service, Anwyl completed 80 bombing runs.
Anwyl would eventually return stateside where he was stationed at the then active Mather Air Force Base, now Mather Airport.
Looking back on his time in the service, Anywl said that it “taught him the love for his country and duty.”
Upon retiring from the Air Force, Anywl enrolled at Sacramento State, which had only newly established its campus at its current location.
He would graduate in 1955 with his bachelor’s in business administration and take positions at JCPenney and then Aerojet’s Rancho Cordova location.
In his long life of adventure Anywl said he has taken away three important lessons, “always give 100% in the work force and if you can’t, find something else, give respect to all fellow employees, always work a full day of pay and never be late.”
Anywl and his late wife of 65 years, Mary, were not ones to sit around, and in their many years together were able to spend at least one night in all 50 states, visit more than 70 countries and travel to almost every continent, barring Antarctica.
While his travel partner is no longer with him, a vibrant and expansive family has grown around him. Anywl has welcomed 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.