World War II Veterans

[Sir Creep 7,070]

Marine Corps Capt. Arthur J. Jackson, who received the Medal of Honor for killing 50 Japanese soldiers and silencing a dozen enemy pillboxes during the World War II battle of Peleliu, and almost two decades later was forced out of the service after covering up his slaying of an alleged Cuban spy, died June 14 in Boise, Idaho. He was 92.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society announced the death but did not provide a cause.

 

RIP, and thank you for your service (I know that irks a couple of you SMFH).
SC

[Sir Creep 7,070]

Pearl Harbor survivor Simon Nasario dies at 98.
"Born on Oct. 18, 1918, Nasario was awakened by the first wave of Japanese planes on their way to bomb Ewa Airfield on the island of Oahu. During that time, Nasario was enjoying his first weekend leave at his grandmother’s home across the street from the airfield."
SC

[Davey Jones' Locker 1,324]

14 hours ago, Sir Creep said:

Pearl Harbor survivor Simon Nasario dies at 98.
"Born on Oct. 18, 1918, Nasario was awakened by the first wave of Japanese planes on their way to bomb Ewa Airfield on the island of Oahu. During that time, Nasario was enjoying his first weekend leave at his grandmother’s home across the street from the airfield."
SC

More effective than an alarm clock.

[gcreptile 10,964]

After the death of Clarence Matthews, formerly oldest living man in the US, the title has now actually gone to Richard Overton.

[theoldlady 2,297]

22 hours ago, gcreptile said:

After the death of Clarence Matthews, formerly oldest living man in the US, the title has now actually gone to Richard Overton.

Those WW2 soldiers were a tough bunch. Not many snow-flakes in that group.

 

The damn bank tried to take Clarence´s old house away from him a while back. Luckily a Go-Fund-Me page saved him from being kicked out at the age of 111.

[Sir Creep 7,070]

18 hours ago, gcreptile said:

After the death of Clarence Matthews, formerly oldest living man in the US, the title has now actually gone to Richard Overton.

I hadn't realized (or heard) that.  Crazy....following the guy for one category now he encompasses two!

SC

[Death Impends 7,957]

Looks like Overton is still going strong - earlier in the month he was able to travel by plane to Memphis (his residence is in Texas).

[msc 18,437]

Fair point, though I'd also suggest breathing at 111 years old is going strong, too.

[Prophet 251]

On 28.7.2017 at 21:53, gcreptile said:

After the death of Clarence Matthews, formerly oldest living man in the US, the title has now actually gone to Richard Overton.

No. The oldest living men in the US is John William Douglas (born in August 1905). https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3AJohn~ %2Bsurname%3ADouglas~ %2Bbirth_place%3A"Chesterfield%2C South Carolina"~ %2Bbirth_year%3A1904-1916~

 

[gcreptile 10,964]

1 hour ago, Prophet said:

No. The oldest living men in the US is John William Douglas (born in August 1905). https://familysearch.org/search/record/results?count=20&query=%2Bgivenname%3AJohn~ %2Bsurname%3ADouglas~ %2Bbirth_place%3A"Chesterfield%2C South Carolina"~ %2Bbirth_year%3A1904-1916~

 

I think he doesn't count because they couldn't verify his date of birth:

 

http://z3.invisionfree.com/The_110_Club/index.php?showtopic=17348&view=getnewpost

 

"Birth about 1905"

 

I mean, he might remember his birthday, so I guess the claim is solid. But the proof is missing.

[Prophet 251]

Richard Overton is unverified, too.

[Sir Creep 7,070]

Battle of Britain pilot Kenneth Wilkinson dies at 99.

SC

 

(edit -- amazingly a miss by DDP)

[Ulitzer95 12,577]

Just 11 living from The Few now: http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/bobhsoc/surviving.php

[gcreptile 10,964]

On 1.8.2017 at 20:37, Prophet said:

Richard Overton is unverified, too.

Sorry, I wanted to reply to this a long time ago.

 

You are actually correct in that, apparently, his date of birth is not (yet) confirmed by the usual supercentenarian site standards. But it seems to be verified that he is the oldest WW II veteran.

 

Richard Overton is now back in his house after Meals on Wheels renovated it:

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/richard-overton-returns-to-safer-more-accessible-home-after-meals-on-wheels-renovations-/462852921

 

And now...some fascinating (?) history, starting at Richard's Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Arvin_Overton

 

He is of African, Irish and English descent. And he's distantly related to former president Andrew Jackson!

 

His great-great-grandfather was John Overton, advisor to President Jackson and a judge, banker and political leader:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Overton_(judge)

 

John's great-grandfather was Robert Overton, a prominent English soldier and scholar:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Overton

 

Robert Overton was born at Easington Manor, the seat of the Overton family.:

http://www.skeals.co.uk/Articles/Overtonhall.html

 

The first Overton mentioned there is a Thomas De Overton, "first Prior of Haltemprice in Cottington".

If you follow that guy's genealogy back, you get to William De Overton (1270-1355):

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Overton-1925

 

So there you have over 700 years of Overtons.

[Prophet 251]

The oldest WW2 veteran is Gustav Gerneth from Havelberg.

[gcreptile 10,964]

7 minutes ago, Prophet said:

The oldest WW2 veteran is Gustav Gerneth from Havelberg.

I see... Hm, I guess that was the US-centric view.

 

By the way, the list of surviving WW II veterans contains tons of names of old, famous people:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_veterans_of_World_War_II#G

[Death Impends 7,957]

Eventful times on the Overton front. Back in hospital with pneumonia yet again.

[gcreptile 10,964]

6 minutes ago, Death Impends said:

Eventful times on the Overton front. Back in hospital with pneumonia yet again.

Honestly, I wondered whether they installed air conditioning and whether it would kill him. Doesn't sound good with pneunomia in both lungs.

[Sir Creep 7,070]

No it doesn't sound good.  Godspeed, Mr. Overton.

SC

[Sir Creep 7,070]

John Seelie, a Cleveland (OH) native and Pearl Harbor survivor who was believed to be the last surviving veteran to witness the attack on Wheeler Army Airfield there, died Friday morning in Port Charlotte, Florida.  He was 94.

 

Lupe Cantu Valderas, 93, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars for his combat service in the Army during World War II, died Monday at his Dallas home of complications from a January fall.

SC

[gcreptile 10,964]

On 11.8.2017 at 00:42, Death Impends said:

Eventful times on the Overton front. Back in hospital with pneumonia yet again.

Supposedly on the mend, but date of return yet unclear:

http://www.twcnews.com/tx/austin/news/2017/08/13/richard-overton-on-the-mend-following-hospitalization.html

[gcreptile 10,964]

Overton back home and cleared of pneunomia:

http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/274446690-story

 

He'll drop dead the minute someone opens up a thread on him, won't he?

[Death Impends 7,957]

I wonder which extraordinarily old guy can recover from more hospital trips - Overton or Sri Sri Shivawhateveritis?

[theoldlady 2,297]

35 minutes ago, gcreptile said:

Overton back home and cleared of pneunomia:

http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/274446690-story

 

He'll drop dead the minute someone opens up a thread on him, won't he?

Yep.

[Sean 6,313]

1 hour ago, gcreptile said:

Overton back home and cleared of pneunomia:

http://www.fox7austin.com/news/local-news/274446690-story

 

He'll drop dead the minute someone opens up a thread on him, won't he?

Saw a couple of interviews of Overton.Clearly a top guy!I  would gladly adopt him as my honorary great grandad!Hope he becomes the oldest man of all time.