Huffington Post Richard Overton, who at 107-years-old is America’s oldest living veteran on record, was honored last week at a Veterans Day ceremony in Austin, Texas. In addition to a standing ovation, Overton received a box of cigars — a vice that he cites as a key ingredient in his recipe for longevity.
Overton takes no medicine, except for aspirin. Instead, he smokes cigars — up to 12 a day, he told Fox News this spring — and drinks whiskey with his morning coffee. The secret to living long, he told the Houston Chronicle, is “staying out of trouble.”
“I also stay busy around the yards, I trim trees, help with the horses,” he told Fox. “The driveways get dirty, so I clean them. I do something to keep myself moving. I don’t watch television.”
Overton served in the Army during World War II in Hawaii, Guam, Palau and Iwo Jima. He now lives in Austin.
On Sunday, Overton was set to be honored in Washington, D.C. by President Barack Obama as part of the White House’s Veterans Day festivities. According to KEYE TV, Overton was scheduled to have breakfast with the president and Vice President Joe Biden, and then attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony.
“The president wants me to come with him,” Overton said. “I’m surprised he called me.”
it was great to read about this guy..may he have many more birthdays…whiskey and coffee..i do it with brandy..im 64 and still working..why the f#@k not?…when you make 36.. an hour..its sweet…I do not suffer any of the age killers..like diabetes..not fat..do not eat at mickey ds..the d should stand for death..these fat lard asses eat that crap and wonder why at 40 they are really sick? I do have one problem..i have a throbbing head ache over the fact that my former republic has turned into a nightmare. Run by greedy morons..who think..who believe they are in touch with reality..i beg too differ..