A World War II veteran, who once bailed out of his damaged aircraft over Southeast Asia, celebrated his 99th birthday in Apple Valley.

On Saturday, retired Army Air Corps pilot Donald Roser celebrated the milestone with family, friends and neighbors at the Mariposa Lodge near Jess Ranch.

About 50 people from Nebraska and throughout California attended the party, where food, drinks, desserts, and a patriotic-themed birthday cake were served. Cadets from the Academy for Academic Excellence’s Space Force Junior ROTC stood at attention as Roser exited his golf cart and entered the lodge.

“My dad is an amazing man, who lived quite the adventurous life,” Dawna Barnes said. “I’m so excited that we were able to come together to celebrate his big day.”

Town of Apple Valley Councilman Art Bishop, who helped organize the party, called Roser a hero and man worthy of being honored.

“It’s truly a privilege to have a man of Mr. Roser’s caliber living here in Apple Valley,” Bishop said. “On behalf of the Town Council, we wish Don a very happy 99th birthday.”

Flying over the Himalayas

Roser was born on April 15, 1924, in Le Loup, Kansas to Emil and Ethyl Roser. He was the couple’s second child and only son.

The Roser family later moved to Nebraska City, where Emil opened a barber shop and Ethyl taught school.

After graduating high school in 1943, Roser enrolled and completed Army Air Corps pilot training. On his 20th birthday, he enlisted in the military and served until April 1946.

“He was stationed in India at the base of the Himalayan mountains range,” Barnes said. “He flew an unarmed and unescorted C46, which carried mostly gasoline and supplies for the troops. With all that fuel, it was like piloting a flying bomb.”

Navy Commander Greg Grabowski, 58, said as a teenager, Roser took the wayward youth and hired him at his gas station

During that time, Roser told Grabowski the story of how he flew one of the China Defensive, Central Burma and India Burma routes over the Himalayas.

Roser told him that his plane began losing altitude after the plane’s carburetors iced up. Under the cover of darkness, 1st Lt. Roser bailed out of the aircraft and landed in a tree, where he stayed until daybreak.

“He cut himself down, then spent three days evading Japanese patrols until he found a friendly Indian village, who took him back to his airbase,” Grabowski said. “The other two airmen who were with him were never seen again.”

Grabowski called Roser an inspiration and the type of veteran who weaves a strong fabric through the community.

“It’s men like him who inspire the next, second, third and fourth generations of young Americans who are ready to raise their right hands and be our nation’s defensive shield,” Grabowski said. “I’m very proud to have been a part of his life.”

During his military career, Roser logged over 1,000 hours of flying time and performed under very hazardous flying conditions, Army officials stated.

“He was also stationed shortly in Libya, then Egypt where he climbed one of the pyramids,” Barnes said. “It seems like he’s been everywhere and done everything.”

Roser received the WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal and European- African Middle Eastern Theater Medal.

Grounded by love

After leaving the military, Roser moved to the Long Beach area, where he received his Army instrument pilot certificate, which would enable him to fly commercial planes.

At the same time, he met a young woman, Terry Lee, who he would marry on March 23, 1952.

“She didn't want him gone and flying all over the world,” Barnes said. “So he settled into California life and briefly worked for General Motors until he had to quit because he refused to join the union.”

He began working for Parks Texaco and later became manager over the varied stations the company owned.

“A robber once came to steal from a station that he worked at,” Barnes said. “Don chased him down until the robber shot at him. He still has a piece of buckshot in his face where it hit him.”

Roser bought a tract home in north Long Beach for $10,000, with payments at $55 per month.

In 1955, Don and Terry Roser family welcomed their only child, Dawna.

In the late 1960s, Roser left Texaco to lease his own Shell station at the corner of Beach and Lincoln Boulevard in Buena Park.

Roser worked hard and felt a reward by having his own station, Barnes said. After Shell bought him out, he decided to retire.

“It seems like all of us worked at my dad’s station,” Barnes said. “I worked there, my husband’s cousin worked and so did my cousin, Greg Grabowski.”

After 60 years of marriage, Terry died in September 2012. Roser eventually moved to Apple Valley.

'A Jack LaLanne kind of guy'

Barnes described her father as a healthy and active senior, who walks every day and often mows his yard, despite having a gardener.

Roser has scoliosis, but is social and enjoys visiting his neighbors and driving his "fancy" golf cart around with his beloved dog Hunter, said Barnes, who also lives in Apple Valley.

“My dad was in the Senior Olympics, where he competed in the discus, shotput and javelin,” she said. “For a while, he held the record for distance for his age group in the javelin.”

Roser was also a water skier and ran several marathons in his 60s, competing in the Long Beach race about 35 years ago, Barnes said.

His home gym includes weights, a rowing machine and other equipment.

“My dad is a Jack LaLanne kind of guy,” Barnes said. “He’s always on the move.”

LaLanne was a popular American fitness and nutrition expert, and motivational speaker, whose fitness TV program The Jack LaLanne Show aired from 1951 to 1985. He was 96 when he died in 2011.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: WWII veteran Donald Roser celebrates his 99th birthday in Apple Valley