We Remember and Honor You, Richard Overton
Richard Overton was born on May 11, 1906 near Austin, Texas. He was 112 years old when he died on December 28, 2018, at a rehabilitation facility near his home in Austin, Texas. He is the nations oldest World War 11 Veteran. Richard Overton was in his thirty’s when he volunteered for the Army and was at Pearl Harbor just after the Japanese attack in 1941. He served in the all-Black 1887th., Engineer Aviation Battalion in the Pacific Theater. He said that combat had helped his segregated unit gain acceptance. ” When we got out of the war, we were all together, there was no discrimination there.” Lives depended on it, he said. Mr. Overton met President Obama at the White House in 2013 and President Obama honored him at a Veterans Day Ceremony, at Arlington National Cemetery. He was at Pearl Harbor, at Okinawa and Iwo Jima. Overton said, ” I only got out of those places by the grace of God.” President Obama said, ” When the war ended, Mr. Overton did not get the respect he deserved from his service on the battlefield, but he held his head high and lived his life with honor and dignity.” He returned to Austin and worked at a furniture store and also as a courier at the State Capital, retiring in the 80’s. He was married twice but had no children. The Austin City Council recognized Mr Overton’s contributions to the state and Country by proclaiming a day in his honor and ceremonially renaming the street after him. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas said, ” Richard Overton made us proud to be Texans and proud to be Americans.” Forever grateful for your Service and Sacrifice to our Country! You are a True Hero and you will always be remembered!