RIP sir.


America’s oldest veteran, Richard Overton, who served in the Army during World War II and credited God, whiskey and cigars for his remarkable longevity, died Thursday in Texas at the age of 112, reports say.

He had been hospitalized for the last week with pneumonia, his family said.

Shirley Overton, whose husband was Richard’s cousin, said the vet died Thursday evening at a rehab facility in Austin.

Overton, who was also thought to be the oldest living American, was born in 1906 in Bastrop County, just outside Austin, Texas.

Overton was in his 30s when he volunteered for the Army, and was at Pearl Harbor just after the Japanese surprise attack in 1941.

The WWII veteran served in the all-black 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion from 1942 to 1945, a period that included stops in Angaur, Palau; Peleliu, Micronesia; and Iwo Jima, Japan.

On Veterans Day in 2013, as FOX 7 Austin reported, former President Barack Obama honored Overton in front of thousands in the nation’s capital. “His service on the battlefield was not always matched by the respect that he deserved at home. But this veteran held his head high,” Obama said.

Overton, in later years, could often be seen on the porch of his home, which he built in East Austin in 1945.

“He’s like a gift to Austin that keeps giving,” Overton’s friend Steve Wiener said last summer. “He’s a crackerjack. When people sense his humor and playfulness, it just lightens everyone’s step.”

His favorite pastime was smoking his 12 daily cigars on his front porch, which friends dubbed his “stage.”

He had lived on his street since returning from war. That street was named in his honor for his 111th birthday last year.

He was grateful to be the nation’s oldest veteran. And he offered this wry advice for living a long life: "Keep living, don’t die.”


https://www.foxnews.com/us/nat...-veteran-dead-at-112

Rest In Peace Mr. Overton.

I think this Veteran was posted about earlier this year and he seemed in very good health. A lot of his neighbors came to visit on his birthday. And, anything that imposter said to or about him was not sincere. RIP sir.

RIP Mr. Overton. I saw on the local news the other day he was in the hospital with pneumonia and had a bad feeling he would pass away. He was a good man.

Condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Sir and thank you for your service to our great nation.

I saw a short video on Mr. Overton a couple years ago. We was in remarkably good health and attributed that, at least in part, to smoking a cigar a day and drinkling...I believe a glass of bourbon daily. He really seemed to enjoy life. I’ll see if I can find that video.



My mistake, he smoked at least twelve cigars a day, and drank as much whiskey as he wanted. Otherwise, soup, ice cream, church, and companionship help make life enjoyable. Good for him, and so glad Honor Flight got him back to Washington to see the World War II Memorial.

quote:

Originally posted by SSgt USMC/Vet:
RIP Sir and thank you for your service to our great nation.

Great video, thanks for posting.

I wish like hell I’d had the chance to bring him a bottle and cigar in person. Rest easy sir, you earned it.

A tough and brave AMERICAN!!!!

Rest easy, sir! Enjoy your spot in Heaven.

quote:

Originally posted by David Lee:
I think this Veteran was posted about earlier this year and he seemed in very good health. A lot of his neighbors came to visit on his birthday. And, anything that imposter said to or about him was not sincere. RIP sir.

I posted this 5/11/18

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...600026144#4600026144

Rest in Peace, SIR!

RIP. You deserve it.