Richard was born in 1906 and is the oldest surviving world war 11 veteran and centenarian.After departure from service in the military, Richard Overton established a home in Texas where he has lived since then.
The centenarian served in the army during the Second World War 11 and vividly remembers the horrors of the war and having seen many of his comrades die in the same war.He sensationally describes the war as horrible and recalls with profound joy their excitement upon coming back home from the battlefield . It however does not skip his mind the amount of sacrifice and commitment it took them to go back. The centenarian says it took both a mental and physical preparedness to go back. He however has no regrets for joining the army.
In past few days, Overton has been a busy man, appearing in different places across the country. Meeting high profile persons has been part of his experience. He had an unique privilege to meet president Obama in the white house during the veterans day. The president lauded him for his role in the war. For him this was a dream come true since he had longed for this opportunity. Also among his encounters is with the governor of Texas.
However, it still remains controversial whether the centenarian was present during the attack on the Pearl Harbor. A statement by Obama suggests he saw all the action at the Pearl Harbor. However records of this remain scanty.
The veteran came to public limelight when he announced in an interview that he would prefer to spend his memorial smoking and drinking whisky that has been stiffened with coffee. He still appreciates that people would love to do something for him on this day but is categorical that how he would love to spend it. After leaving his job at the military, Richard worked in a furniture shop before joining the state department of treasury.
His service to his country was recognized by the mayor of Austin who described him as an extraordinary man.Overton took the opportunity to advise the young generation to become active in different physical activities instead of spending all their time watching.Together with his fellow veterans Overton has had an opportunity to tour the memorial of Martin Luther King. This visit was sponsored by Honour Flight. This is an organization that has and continues to facilitate the visits of veterans to different memorials as a way appreciating their significant contribution to society.
Honor Flight, an organization that sponsors the trips by veterans to memorials, sponsored the transport of the centenarian in company of other veterans to the memorial of Martin Luther King as a way of appreciating the contribution of these great men and women.
But this memorial will not be like the rest for him, His only friend and member of his platoon has passed on. This centenarian wishes that at least one member of his platoon was still alive. It is for this reason, even as he celebrates his 107th birthday, that Overton a times feels so lonely. Richard has been married twice and has had no children. He has been a widower for the last twenty two years.
The centenarian served in the army during the Second World War 11 and vividly remembers the horrors of the war and having seen many of his comrades die in the same war.He sensationally describes the war as horrible and recalls with profound joy their excitement upon coming back home from the battlefield . It however does not skip his mind the amount of sacrifice and commitment it took them to go back. The centenarian says it took both a mental and physical preparedness to go back. He however has no regrets for joining the army.
In past few days, Overton has been a busy man, appearing in different places across the country. Meeting high profile persons has been part of his experience. He had an unique privilege to meet president Obama in the white house during the veterans day. The president lauded him for his role in the war. For him this was a dream come true since he had longed for this opportunity. Also among his encounters is with the governor of Texas.
However, it still remains controversial whether the centenarian was present during the attack on the Pearl Harbor. A statement by Obama suggests he saw all the action at the Pearl Harbor. However records of this remain scanty.
The veteran came to public limelight when he announced in an interview that he would prefer to spend his memorial smoking and drinking whisky that has been stiffened with coffee. He still appreciates that people would love to do something for him on this day but is categorical that how he would love to spend it. After leaving his job at the military, Richard worked in a furniture shop before joining the state department of treasury.
His service to his country was recognized by the mayor of Austin who described him as an extraordinary man.Overton took the opportunity to advise the young generation to become active in different physical activities instead of spending all their time watching.Together with his fellow veterans Overton has had an opportunity to tour the memorial of Martin Luther King. This visit was sponsored by Honour Flight. This is an organization that has and continues to facilitate the visits of veterans to different memorials as a way appreciating their significant contribution to society.
Honor Flight, an organization that sponsors the trips by veterans to memorials, sponsored the transport of the centenarian in company of other veterans to the memorial of Martin Luther King as a way of appreciating the contribution of these great men and women.
But this memorial will not be like the rest for him, His only friend and member of his platoon has passed on. This centenarian wishes that at least one member of his platoon was still alive. It is for this reason, even as he celebrates his 107th birthday, that Overton a times feels so lonely. Richard has been married twice and has had no children. He has been a widower for the last twenty two years.
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