Title: Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton.
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution (1) extends heartfelt sympathies to the family of Richard Arvin Overton, who was the oldest surviving veteran; and (2) honors his life and his service to the United States.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 37 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 37

              Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 11, 2019

 Mr. Williams (for himself, Ms. Granger, Mr. Wright, Mr. Gohmert, Mr. 
    Thornberry, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. 
Arrington, Mr. Flores, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Cloud, Mr. Gooden, Mr. Babin, 
Mr. Roy, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Brady, Mr. McCaul, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. Carter of Texas, Mr. Ratcliffe, Mr. Veasey, Mr. 
 Olson, Mr. Hurd of Texas, Mr. Vela, Mr. Allred, Mr. Cuellar, and Ms. 
Jackson Lee) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                 the Committee on Oversight and Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
              Honoring the life of Richard Arvin Overton.

Whereas, on May 11, 1906, Richard Arvin Overton was born to Gentry Overton, Sr., 
        and Elizabeth ``Lizzie'' Overton in Bastrop County, Texas;
Whereas, in 1940, Richard Arvin Overton enlisted in the United States Army and 
        began his military service at Fort Sam Houston, Texas;
Whereas, from 1942 to 1945, Richard Arvin Overton bravely served in the Pacific 
        Theater, including stops in Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima, with the 1887th 
        Engineer Aviation Battalion, an all African-American unit, until the 
        conclusion of World War II;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton attained the rank of corporal in the United States 
        Army;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Meritorious Unit 
        Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, 
        American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II 
        Victory Medal, and the Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton returned to Austin, Texas, following the 
        conclusion of World War II, and resided there until his death on 
        December 27, 2018;
Whereas, on November 11, 2013, Richard Arvin Overton was honored by former 
        President Barack Obama at Arlington National Cemetery for his courage 
        and commitment to service in combat zones such as Pearl Harbor, the 
        Marshall Islands, Guam, Palau, and Iwo Jima;
Whereas, on January 3, 2015, Richard Arvin Overton represented the Greatest 
        Generation at the 2015 United States Army All-American Bowl, which was 
        held in San Antonio, Texas;
Whereas, on May 3, 2016, Richard Arvin Overton became the oldest surviving 
        American veteran following the death of Frank Levingston, a fellow World 
        War II veteran;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton became a supercentenarian on May 11, 2016;
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton's birthday, May 11, is officially designated as 
        ``Richard Overton Day'' in Austin, Texas;
Whereas, in 2017, the city of Austin, Texas, officially renamed the street where 
        Richard Arvin Overton resided to ``Richard Overton Avenue'';
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton shall be laid to rest with full military honors at 
        the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas; and
Whereas Richard Arvin Overton is an American hero who exemplified strength, 
        sacrifice, and service to the United States of America: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) extends its heartfelt sympathies to the family of 
        Richard Arvin Overton;
            (2) honors the life of Richard Arvin Overton and his 
        service to the United States of America;
            (3) honors and, on behalf of the United States, expresses 
        deep appreciation for the outstanding and important service of 
        Richard Arvin Overton to his country; and
            (4) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the House 
        communicate this resolution to the Senate and transmit an 
        enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Richard Arvin 
        Overton.
                                 <all>