DURHAM -- A special celebration was held Thursday for a Durham veteran.

• Mack Haynes, a distinguished Durham veteran, turned 93 Thursday.
• He served in the Marines when they were still segregated. 
• He served through three wars. 

Mack Haynes, a distinguished Marine Corps veteran with an impressive career, celebrated his 93rd birthday.

Haynes served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. 

He joined the Marines at 17 years old and was soon assigned to Montford Point, a training base near Camp Lejeune for African-American Marines. 

After living for nearly a century, he has some solid advice for others: "Do what you're told, do what's right, and when mama says do something, do it."

Haynes was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal (CGM Bronze replica) in 2012, the highest civilian award in the United States.