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Richard Arvin Overton

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Richard Arvin Overton
Overton on Veterans Day 2017
Born(1906-05-11)May 11, 1906
(age 118 years, 191 days)
Bastrop County, Texas, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1940–45
Rank Technician fifth grade[1]
Unit1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion (Colored)
Battles / warsWorld War II
Awards Combat Infantry Badge
Meritorious Unit Commendation
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge

Richard Arvin Overton (born May 11, 1906) is an American supercentenarian who at age 118 years, 191 days is both the oldest verified surviving U.S. war veteran and the oldest living man in the United States. He served in the United States Army during World War II. In 2013, he was honored by President Barack Obama.[2][3][4][5] He currently resides in Austin, Texas.

Early life and education

Overton was born in Bastrop County, Texas[6] to Gentry Overton, Sr. (1877–1920) and Elizabeth Franklin Overton Waters (1876–1939).

Military and civilian career

File:CPL Richard Arvine Overton, USA.jpg
Richard Arvin Overton, during military service in the 1940s

Overton enlisted into the U.S. military on September 3, 1940 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.[7]

He served in the South Pacific from 1940 through 1945, including stops in Hawaii, Guam, Palau and Iwo Jima. He left the U.S. Army in October 1945 as a technician fifth grade.[8]

Overton worked at local furniture stores before taking a position with the Texas Department of the Treasury (now part of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts) in Austin. He was married twice but never had children.[9]

Later life

U.S. President Barack Obama greets Overton in the White House Blue Room, Veterans Day 2013

Overton gained media attention during the 2013 Memorial Day weekend when he told Fox News he would spend his Memorial Day "smoking cigars and drinking whiskey-stiffened coffee."[10][11]

On that same Memorial Day, Overton met with Texas Governor Rick Perry.[12] Overton was also invited to the White House where he met with President Barack Obama, and to the Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, where he was singled out by name for praise by the President.[5][13][14]

During an NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies on March 24, 2017, Overton was honored during a half-time break.[15]

Overton is the subject of a 2016 documentary, Mr. Overton, in which he is interviewed about his daily routine, thoughts on his longevity, and his military service.[16][17] On May 3, 2016, he became the oldest surviving American veteran after the death of Frank Levingston.[18][19][20][21]

On May 11, 2016, Overton became a supercentenarian.[6]

Military awards

Badge Combat Infantryman Badge
1st Row Army Good Conduct Medal American Defense Service Medal
2nd Row American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal World War II Victory Medal
Badge Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge
Unit award Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

Personal life

Overton lives in Austin, Texas. In November 2015, he was hospitalized there for pneumonia at the age of 109.[22]

A week after celebrating his 111th birthday in May 2017, he was once again hospitalized for pneumonia.[23]

In August 2017, Overton was hospitalized in Austin for pneumonia in both of his lungs.[24]

Overton survived a fourth bout of pneumonia over Memorial Day weekend in 2018.[25]

He is a Protestant and attends church regularly.[26]

On July 1, 2018, it was reported that Overton became a victim of identity theft. A suspect of an unknown origin opened a fake banking account with Overton's social security number, accessed his personal checking account, and used the money to gather savings bonds. Overton also has a Go Fund Me account which has raised over $420,000 for his in-home care.[27] On July 5, 2018, Mr. Overton's family announced that Bank of America had restored the funds to his account.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ "109-Year-Old Veteran and His Secrets to Life Will Make You Smile - Short Film Showcase". YouTube. April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  2. ^ Royce-Bartlett, Lindy (November 11, 2013). "Oldest World War II vet Richard Overton, 107, honored by President Obama". CNN.
  3. ^ Thuman, Scott (November 11, 2013), Richard Overton honored by President Obama on Veterans Day, WJLA-TV
  4. ^ Toppo, Greg (November 10, 2013). "Oldest living WWII vet to meet with Obama". USA Today.
  5. ^ a b "Oldest known WWII veteran honored at Arlington ceremony". Fox News Channel. November 11, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Staff (May 11, 2016). "Nation's oldest living WWII Combat Veteran Richard Overton turning 110". fox7austin.com. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  7. ^ National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, U.S.: Ancestry.com Operations Inc:::2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; ARC: 1263923. World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park. College Park, Maryland, U.S.
    transcription of record here; accessed September 1, 2015.(subscription required)
  8. ^ Arvine, Richard Overton (2013). "Richard Arvine Overton Collection". memory.loc.gov. Veterans History Project. Retrieved August 1, 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ "America's oldest living WWII veteran turns 112, fueled by cigars, Dr Pepper and coffee". Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "America's oldest veteran to spend quiet Memorial Day at Texas home". Fox News Channel. May 26, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  11. ^ Golgowski, Nina (May 25, 2013). "America's oldest vet, aged 107, who saw comrades fall in WWII to spend Memorial Day with cigars and whiskey-stiffened coffee". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  12. ^ "Oldest living WWII vet meets Gov. Perry". YouTube. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  13. ^ Jackson, David (November 11, 2013). "Obama: 'We will never forget' veterans". USA Today.
  14. ^ President Barack Obama greets Richard Overton, White House, November 11, 2013
  15. ^ Carbaugh, Dane (March 24, 2017). "Spurs honor Richard Overton, the oldest living U.S. veteran at Military Appreciation Night". ProBasketballTalk. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  16. ^ "Mr. Overton – GI Film Festival | Reel Stories! Real Heroes!". gifilmfestival.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  17. ^ "LA Shorts Fest". lashortsfest.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  18. ^ Villalpando, Roberto (May 5, 2016). "The man who was America's oldest World War II veteran has died". ajc. COX MEDIA GROUP. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  19. ^ "Oldest US WWII veteran dies at 110". RT International. TV-Novosti. May 4, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2018. The mantle of the oldest living WWII veteran has passed to Richard Arvine Overton, 109, of Austin, Texas
  20. ^ Johnson, Dionne (May 4, 2016). "Frank Levingston, Nation's Oldest WWII Veteran, Dies at 110". KLFY. Nexstar Broadcasting. Retrieved February 11, 2018. Richard Arvine Overton is now the oldest surviving American World War II veteran.
  21. ^ CHUCK, ELIZABETH (May 2016). "America's Oldest Veteran Richard Overton Celebrates 110th Birthday". Staff. NBC News. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  22. ^ "Austinite Richard Overton, nation's oldest WWII veteran, hospitalized". Statesman.com. November 11, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  23. ^ Hall, Katie (May 19, 2017). "UPDATE: Richard Overton, oldest vet and Austin resident, diagnosed with pneumonia, family says". Statesman. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  24. ^ Lauren Reid (August 10, 2017). "Richard Overton taken to hospital for pneumonia". Fox 7 Austin. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  25. ^ Macias, Amanda (June 2, 2018). "Oldest US vet rejects life in an assisted-living facility to stay in the house he built after WWII". CNBC. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Oldest Living World War II Veteran Richard Overton to Turn 109". ABC News. May 6, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  27. ^ "Thieves drain bank account of oldest living U.S. veteran, family says". CBS News. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  28. ^ "Bank Restores Funds Stolen from Oldest Living Veteran's Account". Military.com. July 5, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
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