America's oldest living WWII veteran turns 112, fueled by cigars, Dr Pepper and coffee

[steve2470]

https://www.stripes.com/news/america-s-oldest-living-wwii-veteran-turns-112-fueled-by-cigars-dr-pepper-and-coffee-1.526405

AUSTIN -- The oldest man in America, who's also the oldest U.S. veteran, wakes on his couch at 4:25 a.m. and wonders if it's still raining.

The blinds of his home are drawn shut. The trickles from an overnight storm fall onto the trees. "Turn on the lights," he says to his caregiver, who has sat by his side all night, waiting for Richard Overton to open his eyes.

He's helped onto a scale, which says his frail figure is a perfect 125 pounds. His blood pressure is a solid 110 over 80. His body temperature is 97.4 degrees.

In a few days, on Friday, he'll turn 112. "And I have no pains, no aches."

[Aristus]

1. They sure liked making a big deal about his twelve cigars a day.

Great.

Somebody reading this article is going to think: "Hey! I can live a life of cigars, bacon, brake-fluid cocktails, and self-cutting, and live to be over 100!"

And that just means more agony for patients, their families, and medical providers...

[steve2470]

2. yep

I'd say it's pretty obvious he has an extremely strong genetic background, and he's lucky not to get any form of cancer from those cigars. Of course we don't know his entire medical history.

At any rate, I salute him for his service. One of the few remaining.

[zonemaster]

3. This is a +4 sigma individual...

...for those familiar with this concept from statistics.

IOW - as a previous poster said, "Do not attempt at home."

[ProudLib72]

4. I like this guy

It'd be fun to hang out on the porch with him, drinking Jack and Coke. Don't know about the cigars.

[catsudon]

5. I love it

I drink dp and espresso, hope I live to at least 66.