Richard Overton, nation's oldest living WWII veteran, turns 112 on Friday
AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) - Austin resident Richard Overton, America's oldest living World War II veteran, is celebrating his 112th birthday on Friday.
Overton was born in Bastrop County, Texas and was inducted into the U.S. military on September 3, 1940 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
He served in the South Pacific from 1940 through 1945, including stops in Hawaii, Guam, Palau and Iwo Jima during World War II. He left the U.S. Army in October 1945.
Overton also 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.
Some of the technological milestones Overton has seen come to be in his lifetime include:
- The electric washing machine
- Hearing aids
- Frozen food
- Television
- Penicillin
- Helicopters
- Sliced bread
Honor Flight Austin will celebrate Overton's birthday on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
