Oldest living WWII veteran SHOCKED at AMAZING gifts from fellow countrymen
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Richard Overton is believed to be the oldest living World War II veteran in the United States.
Richard Overton, America's oldest living WWII veteran may lose the home he built himself (GoFundMe).
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
1/23/2017 (7 years ago)
Published in U.S.
Keywords: Richard Overton, WWII, veteran, home
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Overton has outlived most of his friends and his closest relatives. He currently resides in the same home he built himself in Austin, TX over 60 years ago.
Unfortunately, Overton has reached the point where he requires 24-hour home care.
Volma Overton Jr, Richard Overton's third cousin, and a friend are currently volunteering their time to ensure Overton is being properly taken care of each day and others from his church and neighborhood have also been taking time to visit him but a professional would serve as a better caregiver.
"He just needs someone around him just in case he falls to pick him up and make sure he's not hurt," Volma explained.
Overton and his family did attempt to reach assistance from Veteran Affairs but were only offered two options: help from a nurse three-days a week or moving to assisted living.
Overton, however, wants to stay in the home he built until the day he dies.
"That house has so much to do with his happiness, his joy and his love for humanity and everything else," Volma explained.
Vouching for his character, a close long-time friend, Martin Wilford, shared Overton's favorite pastime is joking and telling stories to his visitors on his front porch.
"He will say some things man, that will make you fall out of your chair. I don't care what color or what religion, he loves people."
Volma shared Overton's mind remains sharp and his memory intact. He is also fairly healthy despite a life-long habit of smoking Tampa Sweet cigars and drinking whiskey.
Volma said Overton drinks "one [shot of whiskey] to wake him up and get him going and one to put him to sleep, and the cigars in between."
Richard Overton is the oldest living WWII veteran.
The proud veteran's relative health is what keeps Veteran Affairs from offering more, so Volma took Overton's daughter's advice and turned to the internet for help.
Volma opened a GoFundMe account, in which he explained the donations would help the veteran remain in his home.
Speaking to CNBC, Volma explained, "We all know that moving him out his house will put him in the grave."
The fundraising account was created December 27, 2016 and has since received $111,220 of its current $150k goal.
The home care is estimated to cost $480 per day, coming to a total of $172,800 per year.
Initially, the Overtons asked for $50,000, which would cover nearly 105 days of care. When, after two days of being opened, the site surpassed its goal, the Overtons changed the goal to $100,000, which would pay for 208 days worth of care.
Today, the goal is $150,000 and has surpassed its previous goal by $11,220.
When Overton learned of the generosity from his fellow countrymen, he asked incredulously, "All these people care for me?"
It should come as no surprise as he is recognized as a national hero, like all other WWII veterans. He was honored by former U.S. President Barack Obama and was visited by Texas Governor Rick Perry on Memorial Day in 2013.
He was also featured in Cigar Aficionado magazine in 2015, where he credited tobacco "and God" for his longevity.
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