5 ▁until ▁his ▁death ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education ▁ ▁Over ton ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Bast rop ▁County , ▁Texas , ▁to ▁G entry ▁Over ton , ▁Sr . ▁and ▁Elizabeth ▁Franklin ▁Over ton ▁W aters . ▁ ▁Military ▁and ▁civil ian ▁career ▁Over ton ▁en list ed ▁into ▁the ▁U . S . ▁military ▁on ▁September ▁ 3 , ▁ 1 9 4 0 , ▁at ▁Fort ▁Sam ▁Houston , ▁Texas . ▁▁ ▁He ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁South ▁Pacific ▁from ▁ 1 9 4 0 ▁through ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁including ▁stops ▁in ▁Hawai i , ▁Gu am , ▁Pal au , ▁and ▁I wo ▁J ima . ▁He ▁left ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Army ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁as ▁a ▁techn ician ▁fifth ▁grade . ▁ ▁Over ton ▁worked ▁at ▁local ▁furn iture ▁stores ▁before ▁taking ▁a ▁position ▁with ▁the ▁Texas ▁Department ▁of ▁the ▁Tre as ury ▁( now ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Texas ▁Com pt roller ▁of ▁Public ▁Account s ) ▁in ▁Austin . ▁He ▁was ▁married ▁twice ▁but ▁did ▁not ▁have ▁any ▁children . ▁ ▁Later ▁years ▁ ▁Over ton ▁gained ▁media ▁attention ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁Memorial ▁Day ▁week end ▁when ▁he ▁told ▁Fox ▁News ▁he ▁would ▁spend ▁his ▁Memorial ▁Day ▁" sm oking ▁cig ars ▁and ▁drink ing ▁whis key - st iff ened ▁coffee ." ▁Over ton ▁has ▁been ▁known ▁to ▁smoke ▁about ▁a ▁dozen ▁cig ars ▁a ▁day . ▁On