America's oldest veteran still smokes cigars and drinks whiskey at 108


Meet Richard Overton, a 108-year-old who is still going strong despite being the oldest known U.S. war veteran. He does his own yard work at his home in Austin — which he bought for $4,000 in 1945, after returning from World War II — still drives, smokes a cigar each day, and occasionally still slips a little whiskey into his morning coffee. "It's just like medicine," he tells The Washington Post.
Overton spent last Veterans Day in Washington, D.C., where he was publicly honored by President Obama. This year he served as grand marshal of the Austin Veteran's Day Parade. As for being 108, he doesn't have any secrets. "You have to ask God about that," he told The Post. "He brought me here and he's taking care of me, and nothing I can do about it."
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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