Overton at home in Austin (Fox 7)
By Dylan Stableford, Yahoo! News | The Lookout
America's oldest living veteran plans to celebrate Memorial Day at his Texas home like he always does: on the porch, smoking a cigar and sipping a cup of coffee stiffened with whiskey.
Richard Arvine Overton, a 107-year-old World War II veteran, was formally recognized as the country's oldest living veteran earlier this month, traveling to Washington, D.C., for the first time. But he'd rather not have all the attention.
“I don’t know, some people might do something for me, but I’ll be glad just to sit down and rest,” Overton, who lives in Austin, told FoxNews.com. “I’m no young man no more.”
Overton, who was born on May 11, 1906, in Bastrop County, Texas, served three years in the U.S. Army, with stops in Hawaii, Guam, Palau and Iwo Jima.
When asked by a local television news reporter how he feels about being the "oldest living veteran," Overton said: "It makes me feel pretty good. It makes me think I've done something right. If I'd done something wrong, I wouldn't be here."
He added: "Whatever God gives me—[if] he gives me 10 more years, I hope I'll be able to take it. If he gives me 5, I hope I'll be able to do it."