A World War II veteran from Alabama is celebrating a special birthday – 105 years old.

Taylor Howard served on the front lines at the height of the war as a “Buffalo Soldier.” And he also fought for civil rights for most of his life.

“Color of skin ain't gonna make no difference because if you're a human, you can't be nothing but a human,”  he says.

When Howard came back from the war, he opened a movie theater for Gulfport residents who weren’t allowed in certain theaters at the time due to segregation.

"He built a movie theater from the ground up because he's a contractor by trade,” says daughter Sandra Howard Adams.

Howard says his best advice for life is to "Go in peace and pray. Try your best to make peace with every color and climb."