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Last WW1 US Vet Passes


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Washington (CNN) -- Frank Buckles, the last living U.S. World War I veteran, has died, a spokesman for his family said Sunday. He was 110.

 

Buckles "died peacefully in his home of natural causes" early Sunday morning, the family said in a statement sent to CNN late Sunday by spokesman David DeJonge.

 

Buckles marked his 110th birthday on February 1, but his family had earlier told CNN he had slowed considerably since last fall, according his daughter Susannah Buckles Flanagan, who lives at the family home near Charles Town, West Virginia.

 

Buckles, who served as a U.S. Army ambulance driver in Europe during what became known as the "Great War," rose to the rank of corporal before the war ended. He came to prominence in recent years, in part because of the work of DeJonge, a Michigan portrait photographer who had undertaken a project to document the last surviving veterans of that war.

 

As the years continued, all but Buckles had passed away, leaving him the "last man standing" among U.S. troops who were called "The Doughboys."

 

DeJonge found himself the spokesman and advocate for Buckles in his mission to see to it that his comrades were honored with a monument on the National Mall, alongside memorials for veterans of World War II and the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam.

 

Buckles made history when he was asked to testify in Congress on the matter before a House committee on December 3, 2009.

 

"I have to," he told CNN when he came to Washington, as part of what he considered his responsibility to honor the memory of fellow-veterans.

 

Buckles, after World War I ended, took up a career as a ship's officer on merchant vessels. He was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines during World War II and held prisoner of war for more than three years before he was freed by U.S. troops.

 

Never saying much about his POW experience, Buckles instead wanted attention drawn to the plight of the D.C. War Memorial. During a visit to the run-down, neglected site a few years ago, he went past the nearby World War II memorial without stopping, even as younger veterans stopped and saluted the old soldier in his wheelchair as he went by.

 

Renovations to the structure began last fall, but Buckles, with his health already failing, could not make a trip to Washington to review the improvements. The National Park Service is overseeing efforts that include replacing a neglected walkway and dressing up a deteriorated dome and marble columns.

 

Details for services and arrangements will be announced in the days ahead, the family statement said.

 

Flanagan, his daughter, said preliminary plans began weeks ago, with the Military District of Washington expressing its support for an honors burial at Arlington, including an escort platoon, a horse-drawn casket arrival, a band and a firing party.

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He was our last doughboy, and one of the toughest at that.

He will be missed, but not forgotten.

Rest in peace, you will be honored with a moment of silence at our scout meeting tomorrow.

 

:salute:

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Here's his bio from wikipedia. He was 16 when he enlisted:

 

Buckles was born in Bethany, Missouri. He enlisted in the United States Army at the beginning of America's involvement in World War I in April 1917. Only 16 years old at the time, Buckles was asked by his recruiter to show a birth certificate. Later Buckles said of that event:

“ I was just 16 and didn’t look a day older. I confess to you that I lied to more than one recruiter. I gave them my solemn word that I was 18, but I’d left my birth certificate back home in the family Bible. They’d take one look at me and laugh and tell me to go home before my mother noticed I was gone. Somehow I got the idea that telling an even bigger whopper was the way to go. So I told the next recruiter that I was 21 and darned if he didn’t sign me up on the spot! I enlisted in the Army on 14 August 1917.[2] ”

 

Before being accepted into the United States Army, he was turned down by the Marine Corps due to his slight weight.

 

In 1917, Buckles was sent to Europe on the RMS Carpathia, which had rescued RMS Titanic survivors five years earlier. While on the Carpathia, Buckles spoke with crewmembers who had taken part in the rescue of Titanic survivors. During the war Buckles served in England and France, driving ambulances and motorcycles for the Army's 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment. After the Armistice in 1918, Buckles escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. Following his discharge in 1919, he attended the dedication of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, in honor of those Americans who died in World War I, and he met General John Pershing, commander of all United States forces in France during the war.[3]

 

In the 1940s, Buckles worked for a shipping company in Manila, Philippines. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942, and spent the next three and a half years in the Los Baños prison camp. He became malnourished, with a weight below 100 lb, and developed beriberi, yet led his fellow inmates in calisthenics.[4] He was rescued on February 23, 1945.

 

When he was born the cavalry with its horses was still a major of part of military tactics and military aviation meant balloons.

 

buckles.jpg

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It's a very sad milestone to witness, he was very triumphant even in his final days. For you fellow WWI historians and all Americans this is a sad day, but reminds us of our undying crusade to memorialize and honor that generation.

Semper Fi,

Kevin

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Ahh yes. Rest in Peace Mr. Buckles. I certainly hope his efforts in getting a WWI memorial on the mall comes to fruition. What an amazing life.

 

-Ski

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Collector5516
Just heard about it. Sad.

Hope it makes the national news tonight.

R.I.P. Mr. Buckles.

 

R.I.P. Mr. Buckles. As a lover of military history and baseball its been a rough 48 hours (Duke Snider passed away as well).

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I just saw the news as well, the last US WW1 vet.

 

Although I do not think he was mentioned, the book "Angels at Dawn" details the Los Banos raid. As Bob mentioned about the cavalry it is interesting that what was essentially the end of the Cavalry (the last charge) took place in the Philippines along with his internment as a prisoner. Many WWI vets saw historic events (and their participation is often overlooked) after the war but for many the "Great War" had a special meaning for them.

 

Also the R.M.S. Carpathia was a casualty of the "Great War" when it was sunk later in the war.

 

Not just limited to the latest, R.I.P. all members of the A.E.F.

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The White House

 

Office of the Press Secretary

 

For Immediate Release February 28, 2011 Statement by the President on the Passing of Frank W. Buckles

 

Michelle and I were inspired by the service and life story of former Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I and the oldest known World War I era veteran in the world, who passed away yesterday at the age of 110. A decorated soldier in the Great War, he also survived more than three years in Japanese prisoner of war camps during the Second World War.

 

Frank Buckles lived the American Century. Like so many veterans, he returned home, continued his education, began a career, and along with his late wife Audrey, raised their daughter Susannah. And just as Frank continued to serve America until his passing, as the Honorary Chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation, our nation has a sacred obligation to always serve our veterans and their families as well as they’ve served us. We join Susannah and all those who knew and loved her father in celebrating a remarkable life that reminds us of the true meaning of patriotism and our obligations to each other as Americans.

 

CPL Buckles website: http://www.frankbuckles.org/

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Rest in Peace, Mr. Buckles. It is sad to see that long line of doughboys slip behind the curtain of history. We were fortunate to have them among us so long.

 

My Great Grandfather, a WWI veteran of the 30th ID/117th IR, passed in 1977.

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I just saw this, RIP Mr. Buckles. Its odd to think that there is now no one who experienced WWI from the U.S. perspective left, but least he lived to 110. I hope I last that long.

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I took about 10 minutes out of class with my 9th graders and we discussed it and the significance of this milestone. My kids were introduced to Mr. Buckles when I showed them a video of him on the CBS news that aired a few years ago. The video was part of discussing the history of veterans day and its significance to WWI this past November. They were very respectful and in awe something that these youngsters don't often get credit for but I think they showed as much of an understanding of the significance of Mr. Buckles passing as any 15 year could. Semper Fi,

Kevin

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