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The USA's oldest surviving World War II veteran faces losing the home he built with his own hands more than 60 years ago due to spiralling care costs.

Richard Overton, 110, who witnessed sinking ships at Pearl Harbor, needs 24/7 home care but his family doesn't have the money to pay the bill.

Relatives are now aiming to raise $150,000 so the former army corporal isn't forced to sell his house and move into a nursing home .

Mr Overton, who served from 1942 to 1945 in the south Pacific as the allies waged war against Japan, was invited to the Oval Office in 2013 to meet President Barack Obama to mark Veterans Day.

The veteran, whose wife Wilma died in 1988 when he was 82, built his current home more than 60 years ago after leaving the military.

Cousin Volma Overton wrote in a GoFundMe appeal: "Richard Overton is 110 years old and is the oldest living United States veteran.

"He is a veteran of World War II and currently lives in his home in Austin, Texas.

"Richard has outlived all of his closest relatives and is in need of 24/7 home care.

"We are asking for donations to keep him living in his home instead of a nursing home.

"On behalf of the Overton family, we greatly appreciate any donations to help Richard stay in his home and receive in-home care."

He was until recently looked after by friends and relatives, but now they have all become too old, ill or are unable to care for him.

Paying tribute to Mr Overton in 2013, President Obama said: "He was there at Pearl Harbor when the battle ships were still smouldering.

"When the war ended, Richard headed home to Texas, to a nation bitterly divided by race.

"And his service on the battlefield was not always matched by the respect that he deserved at home. But this veteran held his head high."

(Image: Reuters)

The 110-year-old previously thanked God for his long life, saying: "If man had it, I'd have been dead, but God's got it, and he's keeping me well."

The appeal to help Mr Overton, a cigars and whiskey lover, has so far reached two-thirds of its target as more than 2,000 generous well-wishers chipped in.

Mr Overton's home care costs are estimated to be $480 per day.