Thursday, May 1, 2014

The War Hero Richard Overton And Origin

By Eloise Hewitt


Born in 1906, Richard is one of the few surviving veterans of world war 11.Richard Overton has since lived in Texas, a home he established after the end of his service in the military.

This figure has served in the US military from 1942 to 1945, a period characterized by the horrors of world war 11.Richard attests to having seen many of his comrades fall in battle during his service. He describes the battle as a place where no one would want to be in. He vividly recalls their joy when coming back home from the battlefield and how difficult it was when it was finally time to go back. He describes the military as a place where one has to fully commit himself, both physically and mentally.However, Veteran has absolutely no regrets for joining the military.

In past few days, Overton has been a busy man, appearing in different places across the country. Meeting high profile persons has been part of his experience. He had an unique privilege to meet president Obama in the white house during the veterans day. The president lauded him for his role in the war. For him this was a dream come true since he had longed for this opportunity. Also among his encounters is with the governor of Texas.

However, it still remains controversial whether the centenarian was present during the attack on the Pearl Harbor. A statement by Obama suggests he saw all the action at the Pearl Harbor. However records of this remain scanty.

After his departure from the military, Overton took up a job at a furniture store and later on joined the department of treasury in Texas. His attention on the internet is attributed to his revelation that he would smoke cigars and drink whiskey-stiffened coffee during his memorial day. He however remains cognisant of the fact that a number of people would want to do something special for him during this day, but maintains that how he would love to spend the Memorial Day.

While receiving recognition for his great service by Austin mayor, Richard advises that people should not spend all their time sited and watching TV, they should get creative and engage in a activity so as to get moving. The mayor described him as an extraordinary gentleman. After celebrating his birthday, The centenarian was flown to visit world war 11 and Martin Luther King Jr Memorial in Washington DC, by Honor Flight . This is an organization that transports for free, veterans to memorials as a unique way of trying to honour and express thanks to these great men and women.

Honor Flight, an organization that sponsors the trips by veterans to memorials, sponsored the transport of the centenarian in company of other veterans to the memorial of Martin Luther King as a way of appreciating the contribution of these great men and women.

But this memorial will not be like the rest for him, His only friend and member of his platoon has passed on. This centenarian wishes that at least one member of his platoon was still alive. It is for this reason, even as he celebrates his 107th birthday, that Overton a times feels so lonely. Richard has been married twice and has had no children. He has been a widower for the last twenty two years.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment