Cigar-chomping WWII veteran Richard Overton no longer needs to worry about his stolen life savings, thanks to Bank of America.
Federal authorities and police in Austin, Texas, are on the hunt for whomever used the oldest living veteran’s personal information to drain his checking account last week. The 112-year-old’s around-the-clock care will luckily not be disturbed, due to fast acting by his bank.
“Man, I teared up,” third-cousin Volma Overton told the Dallas Morning News on Thursday. “I couldn’t believe it. They made it happen. The executive of the company said he’d take care of this, and he took care of it. Everyone wants to get to the bottom of this. I don’t think it’s going to be long before we know.”
The stolen funds were taken from Mr. Overton’s account over many months and used to buy savings bonds.
The United States Army Air Forces veteran served in the Pacific Theater from 1942 to 1945 as part of the all-black 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion.
“I feel good. I feel like I’m 50,” he told reporters after his 110th birthday.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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