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Ken Mar, a World War II Army veteran and former prisoner of war, celebrated his 100th birthday with the Gung Ho American Legion in Sacramento, California. He was surrounded by fellow Asian American comrades who honored his service and milestone birthday. "We're proud to have him in our post," said Freeman Lee, a member of the Gung Ho American Legion.Members threw Mar a birthday party at their meeting Thursday. They lit candles on a special cake and sang him Happy Birthday.Reflecting on his age, Mar said he doesn't feel any different. "Ken is a good representative of Chinese Americans who served for our country, especially in World War II," Lee said.Mar's military journey began at the age of 16 when he learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor while watching "Gone With the Wind" at the Crest Theater. "I decided to go see that movie, 'Gone With the Wind,'" he said. "Halfway through the movie, they stopped. That's when they announced, 'We've been attacked by the Japanese."Drafted into the Army at 18 as part of the 2nd Infantry Division, Mar arrived on Omaha Beach days after D-Day as a replacement for fallen soldiers. "They put me there as a replacement because they lost a lot of men that they had to go fighting at Normandy," Mar said. He fought France on the Western Front and experienced many close calls, including a mortar shell hitting next to his foxhole. "That's my first narrow escape," he said.Mar continued in combat during the Battle of the Bulge and was captured by the Germans, spending three months as a prisoner of war. "I was just sitting, like next to you, right here. I saw that bullet hit right away in his head, and his helmet just popped right up. It was an awful-looking sight," Mar said.Despite the dangers he faced, Mar returned home and now shares his experiences and secrets to a long life with fellow veterans. His advice includes "keep moving," walking two miles every day, eating vegetables, and "Well, just don't worry." Mar attributes his longevity partly to his 74-year marriage, though he lost his wife four years ago. He was one of 20,000 Chinese Americans who served in World War II and has received the Congressional Gold Medal, Bronze Star, and France's Legion of Honor. "How often do you get a chance to celebrate a hero on his birthday? And he was truly a hero," Lee said.