America's oldest living man and the oldest World War II veteran, Richard Overton, is celebrating another birthday!
“This is a historical moment for our family,” said Overton’s cousin, Donna Fields. “So that's what brings me all the way from Dallas.”
Overton turned an incredible 112 on May 11. And many people from all over Austin attended a big party to celebrate him, including Interim Austin Police Chief Brian Manley.
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Manley tweeted that when someone told Overton that the police chief had come to visit him, Overton asked, "What did I do?"
Hundreds of people circled through the party that all but shut down the street.
“This is a block party. They block off the street, and they just celebrate,” said Fields with a smile. “There's lines and lines and loads of people waiting to see him constantly.”
People posed for pictures, passed out presents, and shared memories throughout the evening’s events.
Of course, the gifts included two of his standbys.
“Cigars and whiskey,” Fields laughed. “Next birthday, preferably he'll be here next year, so we can load him up for the upcoming year.”
Fields said despite his age, he still has his spunk.
“So I took a picture with him, and he says, I'm going to put a cigar in my mouth because I take a picture for the cuties with a cigar,” she said. “And we all just busted out laughing.”
Mr. Overton was born in Bastrop County in 1906. He served in the South Pacific from 1940 through 1945 with stops in Hawaii, Guam, and Iwo Jima.
He left the Army in October 1945.
PHOTOS: Austinite and World War II veteran Richard Overton celebrates his 112th birthday
PHOTOS: Austinite and World War II veteran Richard Overton celebrates his 112th birthday
He currently resides in East Austin, where he has lived since the 1940s.
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