The oldest US marine just celebrated his 105th birthday

Servicemen and women do an invaluable job the world over, which is why they are rightfully celebrated throughout their lives.

Now, the oldest marine in the US has just celebrated his 105th birthday.

Major Bill White reached the incredible age over the weekend and his achievement was honored by a special drive-by birthday salute.

In an interview with News4SA, where he was asked how he felt about turning 105, he simply said: "Feels just as good as it did at 104."

Watch this news report about Bill's milestone birthday below: 

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The 105-year-old currently resides at an assisted living facility in Stockton, California - the Oaks at Inglewood.

Tony Walker, the communication director at the facility, 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."

You can watch the marine's birthday drive-thru salute below: 

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This was also a particularly special birthday for Bill's family, who were able to spend it with him after being unable to visit for months as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

Bill told News4SA that he believes he has lived so long thanks to reading, which has kept his mind sharp, and he's already looking forward to another milestone birthday next year: "Right now I'm trying for 106."

This is the second time that Bill has hit the headlines this year, after he became inundated with messages from around the world when he asked for a few Valentine's cards.

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As well as a note from Donald Trump, NASA sent him a photo and a plaque, and he received Valentine's cards from as far away as Russia and New Zealand.

However, Bill said the messages from marines stationed at Palms Marine Corps Base meant the most to him.

In an interview with CBS, his daughter said: "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."

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