Tuskegee Airman turns 100 years old: 'Looking forward to many more years'

NUANGOLA, Pa. (TND) — ATuskegee Airman is celebrating his 100th birthday and reflecting on his long life.

Lt. Col. James Harvey IIIwas the first African American to fly a combat mission over Korea and was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal, according to WNEP.

"100 is better than the Congressional Gold Medal. And because it takes a little more to attain 100," he said in an interview with the station.

Harvey grew up inNuangola, Pennsylvania, and gushed about the people he was surrounded by.

I had a good childhood growing up. It probably had to do with my surroundings out in the country," he said. "Fresh air, fresh veggies, and the people. The people meant a lot. Had they been the other way, racist, maybe things wouldn't be the same as they are today. So I attribute that to people I associated with when I was a youngster."

Harvey said he's grateful for the way he was treated when he was younger.

No derogatory remarks. No nothing. I just fit right in. I was just one of the group. No problems, and I enjoyed it," Harvey said.

"Well, live healthy. Treat everybody with respect, and my motto has always been 'do onto others as you would have them do onto you,' and I live by it," he continued.

Harvey now lives in Colorado and told WNEP he's "looking forward to many more years." He hasn't been to Pennsylvania since 2021 but hopes to visit soon.