Richard Arvin Overton Explained

Birth Name:Richard Arvin Overton
Birth Date:11 May 1906
Birth Place:Bastrop County, Texas, U.S.
Death Date:
(aged)
Death Place:Austin, Texas, U.S.
Family:John Overton (great-great-grandfather)
Volma Overton (first cousin)
William R. Dickinson (third cousin)
Module:
Embed:yes
Branch: United States Army
Serviceyears:1940–1945
Rank: Technician fifth grade[1]
Unit:188th Engineer Aviation Battalion (Colored)
Battles:World War II
Awards: Combat Infantryman Badge
Bronze Star Medal
U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation

Richard Arvin Overton (May 11, 1906 – December 27, 2018) was an American supercentenarian who at the age of 112 years, 230 days was the oldest verified surviving U.S. World War II veteran and oldest man in the United States. He served in the United States Army. In 2013, he was honored by President Barack Obama.[2] [3] [4] [5] He resided in Austin, Texas, from 1945 until his death in 2018.

Early life and education

Overton was born in Bastrop County, Texas, to Gentry Overton Sr. and Elizabeth Franklin Overton Waters.[6]

Overton's great-great-grandfather was American judge and presidential advisor John Overton.[7] Through this ancestor he was a cousin of civil-rights activist Volma Robert Overton and of William R. Dickinson.[8]

Military and civilian career

Overton enlisted in the United States Army on September 3, 1940, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.[9]

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.[10]

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 did not have any children.[11]

Later years

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."[12] Overton had been known to smoke about a dozen cigars a day. On that same Memorial Day, Overton met with Texas Governor Rick Perry. 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.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15] [16] On May 3, 2016, he became the oldest surviving American veteran after the death of Frank Levingston.[17] [18] [19]

On May 11, 2016, Overton became a supercentenarian.[20] Following the death of Clarence Matthews (born May 1, 1906) on July 22, 2017, Overton became the oldest living American man.[21] Overton was hospitalized for pneumonia in December 2018. He was placed in a rehabilitation center, where he died on December 27, 2018, aged 112 years and 230 days.[22]

Military awards

BadgeCombat Infantryman Badge
1st RowBronze Star MedalArmy Good Conduct MedalAmerican Defense Service Medal
2nd RowAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic–Pacific Campaign MedalWorld War II Victory Medal

Personal life

Overton lived in Austin, Texas. On December 11, 2014, Austin Community College recognized Overton with an honorary associate degree, the college's highest distinction.[23] He was a Member of the Church of Christ and attended church regularly.[24]

On July 1, 2018, it was reported that Overton became a victim of identity theft. A suspect of 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 had a GoFundMe account which raised over $420,000 for his in-home care.[25] On July 5, 2018, Overton's family announced that Bank of America had restored the funds to his account.[26]

After his death, a portion of Airport Boulevard in Austin was named in his honor.[27]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 109-Year-Old Veteran and His Secrets to Life Will Make You Smile - Short Film Showcase . YouTube . April 25, 2017 . April 26, 2017.
  2. News: Oldest World War II vet Richard Overton, 107, honored by President Obama. Royce-Bartlett. Lindy. November 11, 2013. CNN. December 29, 2018.
  3. Web site: Richard Overton honored by President Obama on Veterans Day. Thuman. Scott. November 11, 2013. WJLA-TV. December 29, 2018.
  4. News: Oldest living WWII vet to meet with Obama. Toppo. Greg. November 10, 2013. USA Today. December 29, 2018.
  5. News: Oldest known WWII veteran honored at Arlington ceremony. November 11, 2013. Fox News. December 28, 2018.
  6. Web site: ((Biography.com Editors)) . Richard Overton biography . Biography.com . 2019-04-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190416131757/https://www.biography.com/people/richard-overton-11817 . 2019-04-16 . dead.
  7. Web site: Bridges . Ken . Remembering remarkable life of Richard Overton . Wichita Falls Times-Record-News Home Page . 2019-01-09 . 2023-12-07.
  8. News: Meet America's oldest living vet. He smokes cigars, does yard work, drives and drinks whiskey. And he's 108. Washington Post.
  9. 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.
  10. Web site: Richard Arvine Overton Collection. Arvine. Richard Overton. 2013. memory.loc.gov. Veterans History Project. August 1, 2017.
  11. Web site: America's oldest living WWII veteran turns 112, fueled by cigars, Dr Pepper and coffee. Meyer. Brendan. May 11, 2018. Stars and Stripes. May 12, 2018. March 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210314184453/https://www.stripes.com/news/america-s-oldest-living-wwii-veteran-turns-112-fueled-by-cigars-dr-pepper-and-coffee-1.526405. dead.
  12. News: America's oldest veteran to spend quiet Memorial Day at Texas home. Miller. Joshua Rhett. May 26, 2013. Fox News. May 24, 2013.
  13. News: Obama: 'We will never forget' veterans. Jackson. David. November 11, 2013. USA Today. December 29, 2018.
  14. Web site: Spurs honor Richard Overton, the oldest living U.S. veteran at Military Appreciation Night. Carbaugh. Dane. March 24, 2017. ProBasketballTalk. March 25, 2017.
  15. Web site: Mr. Overton – GI Film Festival Reel Stories! Real Heroes!. gifilmfestival.com. February 11, 2018. December 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181228131134/https://gifilmfestival.com/films/mr-overton/. dead.
  16. Web site: LA Shorts Fest. lashortsfest.com. February 11, 2018. December 28, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174741/http://lashortsfest.com/2016/film_program_details.asp?ProgramNumber=1. dead.
  17. News: The man who was America's oldest World War II veteran has died. Villalpando. Roberto. May 5, 2016. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 11, 2018. Cox Media Group. en.
  18. News: Johnson. Dionne. Frank Levingston, Nation's Oldest WWII Veteran, Dies at 110. February 11, 2018. KLFY. Nexstar Broadcasting. May 4, 2016. Richard Arvine Overton is now the oldest surviving American World War II veteran..
  19. News: America's Oldest Veteran Richard Overton Celebrates 110th Birthday. Chuck. Elizabeth. May 2016. NBC News. February 11, 2018. en.
  20. Web site: Nation's oldest living WWII Combat Veteran Richard Overton turning 110. May 11, 2016. Fox 7 Austin. May 11, 2016. August 31, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170831224919/http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/139592432-story. dead.
  21. Web site: Oakland native who was oldest man in the United States dies. July 24, 2017. www.sfgate.com. February 23, 2019.
  22. Web site: Nation's oldest living veteran Richard Overton dies in Austin at age 112. Claiborne. Casey. December 27, 2018. KTBC. December 28, 2018.
  23. Web site: ACC awards honorary degree to oldest WWII veteran, Richard Overton, at fall commencement. December 9, 2014. ACC Newsroom. Austin Community College. December 28, 2018.
  24. Web site: Oldest Living World War II Veteran Richard Overton to Turn 109. ABC News. August 12, 2018. May 6, 2015.
  25. Web site: Thieves drain bank account of oldest living U.S. veteran, family says . CBS News . July 1, 2018 . July 2, 2018.
  26. News: Bank Restores Funds Stolen from Oldest Living Veteran's Account. July 5, 2018. Military.com. July 13, 2018. en.
  27. Web site: Stretch of Airport Boulevard is now Richard Overton Memorial Highway . May 31, 2019 .

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