Memorial Day for 100-Year-Old Veterans
Our WWII Veterans fought so that their great-grandchildren could live in America with choices today.
Pixabay
Centenarians and World War II
The US Military planned and fought seventeen total campaigns in the Pacific Theater of World War Two. For many who might not know all of these ventures, they includes islands in Alaska, Burma, parts of China, Burma, New Guinea, and several other locations besides Japan.
Although the 70th, Platinum Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack was the last to gather and openly and formally celebrate its Veterans, several of these men and women are still living in 2015. Some of them are over 100 years old!
Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia
Pixabay
The volunteers at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio at Wright Patterson AFB are nearly all older senior citizens. Most are veterans of the Korean War and Viet Nam, but a handful are in their late 80s and 90s, from World War II.. They still tell the stories of their wartime experiences and enjoy describing the related exhibits in the museum and the Presidential and Experimental annex.
Memorial Day is a special time at the National Museum, especially in the year 2015, since May 8 was the 70th anniversary of the European Victory.
National Museum of the Air Force
I first visited the USAF museum in 1963 as a child when it was very small and before its grand opening.
In additional, I became involved in a Project Bluebook correspondence with Donald Keyhoe by an assignment given by my schoolteacher in the fifth grade. That assignment has led to a lifetime of gathering astounding information.
I learn more about UFOs and WWII technologies on every visit to the National USAF Museum in my state, part of the Aviation Heritage Trail of the US. A Quonset hut/hangar type fourth building is opening in later 2015. On my first visit, the museum was one small building, but it brought war and the history of aviation to life.
A Veteran in Texas Over 100 Years Old
The US Department of Veterans Affairs lists a total of 1.02 million survivors among WWII veterans during 2015.
No listing furnishes all of these veteran's names, except for short lists of individuals who have reported in to various agencies and websites. The median age of WWII veterans was 92 in the year 2011. We should not forget these people who served the United States.
The oldest living veteran through 2018 was a resident of East Austin, Texas. He lived a long life and finally died on December 27, 2018 at age 112.
Richard A. Overton wore glasses, used a cane occasionally, but did not need any other type of mobility device. He enjoyed being photographed with his rifle and with a cigar in his mouth.
Richard Overton on Veterans Day 2017 at age 111.
By LuizCent - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php
You got to keep moving. You don't sit down and watch TV all the time. You have to keep moving. -- Richard A. Overton
— www.dailymail.co.uk; May 25, 2013
Sgt. Overton at Age 112
1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion
Sgt. Overton served in the South Pacific, as opposed to the North or Central regions, from 1942 through 1945 in the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion (Colored) during segregated years.
The Engineer Aviation Battalions were specialized battalions of the Army Corps of Engineers that were assigned to the US Army Air Corps before the founding of the USAF. These men built air fields in deserts, in jungles, and even on coral islands in the Pacific Theater.
Engineer Aviation Battalion exhibit near the Curtiss C-46D in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
USAF Photo; PD
During May 2013, Sgt. Overton flew for the first time to Washington, DC in order to see the nation's WWII Memorial. He was aided by Honor Flight, the group that arranges and US Veterans to war monuments free-of-charge.
This Memorial Day, think about visiting the memorials and monuments in your town. Take a senior citizen with you.
The Pacific Theater's Hiroshima: Children from all over the world send paper cranes to Hiroshima for healing, even in the 2010s.
Pixabay
Overton and History
Sgt. Overton's great-grandfather was a judge on the Superior Court of Tennessee and served as an advisor to President Andrew Jackson. John Overton (1766 - 1833) lived in Nashville at his home and plantation called Traveler's Rest. It is a visitor's attraction now that I have seen several times.
John Overton's great-grandfather was Robert Overton (1609 - 1678), a major-general in the English Civil War on the side of the Round Heads.
The plantation house of John Overton (1766 - 1833)
"Travellers Rest Nashville TN 2013-07-20 016" by Thomas R Machnitzki (thomasmachnitzki.com) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The State of Texas is home to 88,540+ living veterans of all wars and conflicts that are ages 85 and older. Some served in all of WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam.
In Sgt. Overton's home county, Bastrop, living veterans include 8,000 individuals of all ages; out of a total of 75,000+ residents, or about 11% of the population.
Sources
- How many of Our WW2 Veterans Are Still Alive? Our Military.com; September 2019.
- Mr. Overton, the film.
- Richard Overton, America's Oldest World War II Veteran. CNN.com; December 27, 2018.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2015 Patty Inglish MS
Comments
Lawrence Hebb from Hamilton, New Zealand on May 20, 2015:
Fascinating hub.
We still remember that the only reason Australia and New Zealand don't speak Japanese is the 1st US Marine division.
When Japan declared war they requested Britain return the hundred thousand troops they'd sent to the Middle East. Britain refused but the US mobilised the Marines who were sent to the Battle of the coral sea that stopped the japanese.
Australia and New Zealand don't always agree with America but they'll never forget who came when they needed help
Blessings
Lawrence
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 19, 2015:
@FlourishAnyway - I agree with what you say and remember when younger people viewed the Tom Hanks-Matt Damon movie "Saving Private Ryan" - the people cried as they sought out veterans of WWII and in the audience and the lobby to thank them. This included teenagers to middle aged people in tears. Our service people have been ignored or taken fro granted too long. Thak you for remembering them and sharing your dad's life with us.
Elaina Baker from USA on May 19, 2015:
Many of them are just now getting the everyday recognition they deserve. It's never too late to give them thanks, whether they are as senior as Richard A. Overton or not quite. My grandfather is 85 and dedicated a career to the military. He is legally blind now and a very humble man of few words. We are proud of his service.
Patty Inglish MS (author) from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on May 13, 2015:
@mckbirdbks - Thank you for your military service! It seems that people are seeking out veterans to thank in some places. I've known several vets who have suffered far too much and too long in receiving medical treatment and some, their disability income. One good friend fought for 20 years for his income and after receiving it, lived just two additional years. He enjoyed a new car once in his life - for a year before he passed on.
Faith Reaper from southern USA on May 12, 2015:
Oh, Patty, this is such a wonderful hub here in tribute to our 100 year old veterans! I've seen that movie, Unbroken, and it is jaw-dropping as you state. I found it fascinating that he returned to Japan to tell his torturer he forgave him, but he was not able to find him.
Thank you for sharing too of your personal experiences. It is all so very interesting.
Up ++++ tweeting, pinning, G+ and sharing
God bless our veterans
John Dean, VA Admin. OH on May 12, 2015:
We hope everyone will gather at their local memorials for ceremonies and celebrations with the US Veterans of their communities this Memorial Day. Let's remember active and reserve military service people and all of our allies as well. Let's show them we are grateful to them.
Romeos Quill from Lincolnshire, England on May 12, 2015:
Shared and pinned.
Very informative and shall take a look at ' Unbroken ' to become educated about this hero Louis Zamperini.
Thank you for the potted history and a pleasant afternoon to you.
Kind Regards;
R.Q.
mckbirdbks from Emerald Wells, Just off the crossroads,Texas on May 12, 2015:
Richard A. Overton seems to be truly rewarded for his Service. Veterans deserve more than they reveive from the country. Many people now realise that. I was asked if I was a veteran, while in a line at a P.O. recently. And was thanked for my service. Interesting to me, because it was quite a while ago that I served.
