For years, national and local media outlets have called 109-year-old Richard Overton of Austin, Texas, "America’s oldest World War II veteran," but it turns out they were wrong: It was Frank Levingston of Louisiana.
It turns out that 110-year-old Levingston was not only America’s oldest living veteran but also, for two weeks this year, America’s oldest man.
Frank's nephew, Jee Levingston told ABC News, that his uncle had received a letter from the White House on his 110th birthday in November, thanking him for his service.
In December, Frank visited Washington, D.C., for the 74th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and laid a wreath at the National World War II Memorial.
Levingston, who enlisted in the Army in October 1942 and participated in the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943, became America's oldest World War II veteran on Aug. 16, 2015, following the death of Emma Didlake. But Levingston also held the title of America's oldest man after Felix Simoneux Jr. died last month on April 19.
But Levingston held that title for only two weeks: He passed away at a Louisiana nursing home on Tuesday.
Levingston’s nephew said a funeral will be held next Tuesday at the Wesley Grove CME Church in Levngston's hometown of Cotton Valley, Louisiana.
Through that sad turn of events, Richard Overton is now officially America’s oldest World War II veteran.
Overton, who joined the U.S. Army in September 1942 and fought the Japanese in the South Pacific, left the Army as a sergeant in October 1945, a month after the war with Japan ended.
The current resident of Austin will celebrate his 110th birthday next week on May 11, likely surrounded by loved ones and smoke from his favorite cigars.
About the Author
