Richard Overton, America’s oldest living veteran and longtime Texan, is getting ready to celebrate his 110th birthday this week.
Overton served in the army during World War II and fought Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He left the army in October of 1945 as sergeant, and headed back home to Austin.
He has lived through 11 presidents and two world wars. His days fighting in the war are long gone, and now the centenarian has opted for a more laid-back lifestyle.
“I’ve been here for 109 years,” Overton said. “I don’t have no pains, no aches, no nothing.”
He spends most of his time sitting on his East Austin porch, and he will be the first to tell you his secret to a long and healthy life is whiskey and cigars.
“Oh I’ve had over 1,000 cigars,” Overton said laughing. “If I would of said dollars instead of cigars, I’d be a millionaire.”
He says word got around fast of his record-breaking title, and soon people from all over the world started showing up at his doorstep, just to hear his stories.
“They do – they drive by,” Overton said. “Washington, California, they come from everywhere. They just want to see me.”
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry paid him a visit in 2013. A couple months later, Overton left his porch, only to hang out with President Barack Obama at the White House.
“Well I feel that I made a record,” Overton said proudly of his new title. “That’s a record that nobody has made yet.”
On Wednesday, Overton will turn 110 years old. He said he isn’t wishing for anything this year, but plans to celebrate the day with hundreds of his friends and family.
Earlier this week, Frank Levingston of Louisiana passed away at the age of 110 years old. He was also a veteran of World War II. With the sad death of Levingston, Overton is now officially the oldest living veteran.
