Despite leading an adventurous life that involved plenty of risks, especially during the war years, Joe Medicine Crow lived to the ripe old age of 102, as reported by the Associated Press. He died in 2016, leaving behind a decorated legacy.

It's hard to quantify all the changes he witnessed throughout his life. But he once noted, "When I was born, on October 27, 1913, there were no doctors or nurses around with their instruments, just a medicine woman who specialized in child delivery." Raised by his grandparents in a rustic log house on an isolated portion of the Crow Reservation, he enjoyed the childhood of a bygone era, nurtured by the ancient traditions of his people.

Because of his long life, he also outlived most of his generation. After all, centenarians make up less than 1% of the American population, placing Medicine Crow in a class of his own (via Discover the Odds). Today, of the 16 million U.S. citizens who served in World War II, just 240,329 remain, and they're passing away rapidly, according to the National WW2 Museum. With each loss comes a loss of history. Fortunately, Medicine Crow's exploits prove well-documented, providing a template of exceptionalism for warriors of all ages.

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