Macon C. Overton was born on 18 August 1890 in Union Point, Georgia. Captain Overton served in the United States Marine Corps in World War I and was awarded the Croix de Guerre with silver star and palm for action in the Bois de Belleau (13 June 1918) and the Distinguished Service Cross for action near Mont Blanc (2–10 October 1918). He was mortally wounded on 1 November 1918 while guiding a tank against an enemy position at St. George. He was posthumously awarded an oak leaf cluster to his Distinguished Service Cross.