World War Two Veteran Richard Overton, Janet Bonney, and COL. (retired) Charles Bonney at the UT-TCU Military Appreciation Game in Austin in 2018. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Oldest World War II vet dies at age 112
Richard Overton, the oldest World War II veteran, died on December 27 in his home in Austin, at age 112.
Overton served in the United States Army in the South Pacific from 1940 to 1945 and achieved the rank of technician fifth grade (equivalent to today’s enlisted pay grade of E-5). Services with full military honors and burial are set for Jan. 12 in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. He was active and well known in the Central Texas veteran community.
Overton’s service and campaign medals include: The Combat Infantry Badge, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal. His Pacific service included Hawaii, Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima.
Overton’s photo ran in the Century News last year as part of a letter to the Editor by local veteran U.S. Army COL (Retired) Charles Bonney, which is reprinted below:
Dear Editor,
At the recent Military Appreciation Game between UT and TCU, at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, my wife Janet and I had the super experience to be with Richard Overton. Richard was born in Bastrop County on May 11, 1906. He is 112 years old. He is both the oldest verified U.S. World War Two veteran and the oldest living man in the United States. He was in the Army during World War Two and achieved the rank of Technician 5thGrade. Fortunately, UT won 5-3 in celebration of his attendance! Yeah all the way around…both Overton and the UT team gave a good “Hook ‘em Horns!”
Blessings come in different forms. We were blessed with this one.
Charles Bonney
U.S. Army COL (Retired)
Vietnam Veteran