[ad_1]
Richard Overton the oldest veteran of the Second World War in the United States, would also have been the oldest man living in the United States. He died Thursday in Texas, announced a family member. He was 11 years old.
The veteran of the army had been hospitalized for pneumonia but had been released on Christmas Eve, said Shirley Overton, whose husband was Richard's cousin and long-time guardian.
"They did everything in their power," she said.
He died Thursday night in a drug rehabilitation center in Austin, Texas, she said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement Thursday calling Overton an "American icon and Texas legend".
Pool / Getty Images
Overton was born in Bastrop County, Texas, and was inducted into the US Army on September 3, 1940 in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, reports KEYE, an affiliate of CBS Austin. He served in the all-black 1887th Engineer's Battalion of Aviation.
Overton was in his thirties when he volunteered for the army. He was at Pearl Harbor right after the Japanese attack of 1941. Overton had served in the South Pacific from 1940 to 1945, including Hawaii, Guam, Palau and Iwo Jima. The Second World War. He left the army in October 1945, reports KEYE.
Overton worked in local furniture stores before taking up a position with the Texas Treasury Department, which is now part of the Texas Public Accounts Controller in Austin.
He has already stated that one of the secrets of his long life was smoking cigars and drinking whiskey, which he was often doing under the porch of his home in Austin .
His recent birthdays drew the country's attention and strangers came to his home to meet him. Even in the hundred, he would lead to the widow's church in his neighborhood.
"With his quick wit and good spirit, he touched the lives of so many people, and I am deeply honored to have known him," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott in a statement. Thursday, calling Mr. Overton "American icon and Texas legend". . "
" Richard Overton has made us proud to be Texans and to be American, "added the governor." We can never repay Richard Overton for his services to our country and for his lasting impact. on the Lone Star State. "
In 2013, former President Obama paid tribute to Overton at a ceremony held on the occasion of Veterans Day at the National Cemetery. Arlington
"He was in Pearl Harbor, when battleships still smoked," Obama said of Overton, "He was there in Okinawa. He was there at Iwo Jima, where he said, "I only came out of there by the grace of God." "
Source link
