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RECEIVING BIRTHDAY WISHES FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> 10 MONTHS AGO, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT. THE DOCTORS TOLD HIM HE WOULD PROBABLY PASS ON THE TABLE. SO HE SAID, "LET’S GO HOME." CAROLYN: BETHEL KILLMAN DIDN’T KNOW IF HE’D MAKE IT THIS LON MR. PHILLIPS: THEY ONLY GAVE HIM 5 AND A HALF MONTHS. CAROLYN: BUT THE WORLD WAR TWO VETERAN DOESN’T GIVE UP THAT EASY. HE SERVED IN THE OLD GUARD, AND FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HIS CURRENT ASSIGNMENT, HITTING THE CENTURY MARK. MR. PHILLIPS: I TOLD BETHEL, I SAID, "WHEN YOU TURN 100, I’M GOING TO HAVE A PARTY FOR YOU, AND I’M GOING TO GET YOU A HUNDRED KISSES, AND THERE’S GOING TO BE LIPSTICK ALL OVER YOUR HEAD." CAROLYN: FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND STRANGERS SHOWED UP FOR HIS PARTY ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. HE NOT ONLY GOT KISS AFTER KISS, HE GOT A LOT OF LOVE FROM PEOP WHO COULDN’T MAKE IT, TOO. AFTER A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA ASKED FOR BIRTHDAY CARDS FOR KILLMAN, PEOPLE DELIVERE MR. PHILLIPS: WE’VE HAD ALL FIFTY STATES, 11 COUNTRIES. CAROLYN: HE’S RECEIVED MORE THAN 16,000 BIRTHDAY CARDS, AND THEY’RE STILL COMING IN. MR. SMITH: WE OPENED ALL OF THEM PERSONALLY AND READ THEM, SO WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW HE REALLY APPRECIATES IT. CAROLYN: KILLMAN SAYS THERE’S NO CLASSIFIED CODE. >> DO YOU HAVE A SECRET FOR LIVING SO LONG? MR. KILLMAN: I DON’T THINK SO. >> YOU DON’T THINK SO? MR. KILLMAN: UH-HUH. CAROLYN: HE’S JUST GLAD HE’S MADE IT HERE. MR. PHILLIPS: THEY LOVE YA. MR. KILLMAN: YEAH. MR. PHILLIPS: YOU GOT A LOT OF NICE THINGS TODAY. MR. KILLMAN: YEAH. CAROLYN: AND HIS FAMILY IS THRILLED THEY PULLED OFF OPERATION CARDS AND KISSES FOR THEIR FAVORITE VETERAN MS. HALL: I’VE NEVER SEEN HIS FACE LIGHT UP LIKE THAT. IT WAS PRETTY EXCI

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It's been a rough year for Bethel Killman, 99, of Scottsburg, but he’s hoping his 100th birthday marks a turnaround.In April, the World War II vet was diagnosed with a heart valve problem and given five months to live. In September, he lost his wife. “Bethel was feeling down about his prognosis last year, so I told him I would throw him a party for his 100th birthday," Steven Phillips, who dates Killman’s stepdaughter, tells WLKY. "I own the Hardy Café in Scottsburg, so I said I’m going to throw you a birthday party there and get you a hundred kisses on your head. And he beamed up at me and said, ‘Well how much is that going to cost me?’”Phillips said he would take care of everything. Phillips said Killman was a member of the Old Guard and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. “The American Legion will be at the party. We’re going to pull out some old pictures and try to dig up some memories from his service. It’ll be special for him.”“Killman is excited about the party and the kisses. I think it’s really kept him going,” Phillips says. The cards are an added bonus, an idea sparked by Killman’s grandkids who posted a photo on Facebook. It has since racked up more than 1,000 shares. Family, friends, and strangers showed up for his party on Sunday afternoon. He not only got kiss after kiss he also got a lot of love from people who couldn't show up. He's received more than 16,000 birthday cards they're still coming in.If you’d like to send a birthday card, Killman’s address is:Bethel Killman966 Wilson RoadScottsburg, IN 47170