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Title: America's last World War I veteran dies Frank Buckles lied about his age to get into uniform
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41821018/ns/us_news-life/
Published: Feb 28, 2011
Author: unk
Post Date: 2011-02-28 18:20:24 by Mad Dog
Keywords: Last WW1, veteran, has gone on ahead
Views: 90027
Comments: 108
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Frank Buckles, the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I, has died. He was 110. Buckles, who also survived being a civilian POW in the Philippines in World War II, died peacefully of natural causes early Sunday at his home in Charles Town, biographer and family spokesman David DeJonge said in a statement. Buckles turned 110 on Feb. 1 and had been advocating for a national memorial honoring veterans of World War I in Washington, D.C. Buckles lied about his age to join the army at age 16.The Missouri native was among nearly 5 million Americans who served in World War I in 1917 and 1918. "I knew there'd be only one (survivor) someday. I didn't think it would be me," he was quoted as saying in recent years. Buckles drove an ambulance during the war. The Washington Post said that with Buckles' death, only a 109-year-old Australian man and a 110-year-old British woman were believed to survive from the estimated 65 million people who served in the 1914-1918 war. On Nov. 11, 2008, the 90th anniversary of the end of the war, Buckles attended a ceremony at the grave of World War I Gen. John Pershing in Arlington National Cemetery. "I can see what they're honoring, the veterans of World War I," he told CNN. He was back in Washington a year later to endorse a proposal to rededicate the existing World War I memorial on the National Mall as the official National World War I Memorial. He told a Senate panel it was "an excellent idea." The memorial was originally built to honor District of Columbia's war dead. Born in Missouri in 1901 and raised in Oklahoma, Buckles visited a string of military recruiters after the United States entered the "war to end all wars" in April 1917. He was repeatedly rejected before convincing an Army captain he was 18. He was 16½. "A boy of (that age), he's not afraid of anything. He wants to get in there," Buckles said. More than 4.7 million people joined the U.S. military from 1917-18. Buckles served in England and France, working mainly as a driver and a warehouse clerk. The fact he did not see combat didn't diminish his service, he said: "Didn't I make every effort?" An eager student of culture and language, he used his off-duty hours to learn German, visit cathedrals, museums and tombs, and bicycle in the French countryside. After Armistice Day, Buckles helped return prisoners of war to Germany. He returned to the United States in January 1920. Buckles returned to Oklahoma for a while, then moved to Canada, where he worked a series of jobs before heading for New York City. There, he again took advantage of free museums, worked out at the YMCA, and landed jobs in banking and advertising. But it was the shipping industry that suited him best, and he worked around the world for the White Star Line Steamship Co. and W.R. Grace & Co. In 1941, while on business in the Philippines, Buckles was captured by the Japanese. He spent 3½ years in prison camps. "I was never actually looking for adventure," Buckles once said. "It just came to me." He married in 1946 and moved to his farm in West Virginia in 1954, where he and wife Audrey raised their daughter, Susannah Flanagan. Audrey Buckles died in 1999. In spring 2007, Buckles told the AP of the trouble he went through to get into the military. "I went to the state fair up in Wichita, Kansas, and while there, went to the recruiting station for the Marine Corps," he said. "The nice Marine sergeant said I was too young when I gave my age as 18, said I had to be 21." Buckles returned a week later. "I went back to the recruiting sergeant, and this time I was 21," he said with a grin. "I passed the inspection ... but he told me I just wasn't heavy enough." Then he tried the Navy, whose recruiter told Buckles he was flat-footed. Buckles wouldn't quit. In Oklahoma City, an Army captain demanded a birth certificate. "I told him birth certificates were not made in Missouri when I was born, that the record was in a family Bible. I said, 'You don't want me to bring the family Bible down, do you?'" Buckles said with a laugh. "He said, 'OK, we'll take you.'"
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 94.
#47. To: Mad Dog (#0)
Often, a local judge with parental guidance and authorized signatures permitted this sort of minor infraction; it is always true during a war. Mad Dog, you bring dishonor to our fighting men. You have proved again, that your barking, growling and snarling singles YOU out as you post data that represents America's finest.
In the War between the states, boys were concerned about this sort of lie, so they would put a slip of paper in their shoe with the number 18 on it so they could say they were 'over 18' as they stood on that number.
What the HELL is Mad Dog's problem? It is his thread and he went ballastic for no known reason other than he gives no honour to a man that served America.
Another drama queen and energy stealer. Actually wants to usurp Mr Buckle's notoriety and make this thread about him/herself.
He is fun for a moment in time when you or anyone have a minute beyond serious discussion... he gives reflection for anyone willing to reflect on what live within his own mind.
Captain, Mad Dog IXX is in Ten Foward Lounge picking fights again claiming we wouldn't have Klingons and Romulans to worry about if his ancestor who owned a piece in the distruction of three obsolete Soviet Jets flown by Vietnamese had been allowed to run the world.
. RIP MR. Buckles.
It took you over a minute to spam that in? How many shots of Yukon Jack did you do between posts?
RIP Mr. Buckles, (unlike those here that have disrespected you on this thread), you were an actual honorable MAN.
You must actually believe I read these mailings you send. I just deleted this one like the last ones. You look childish trying to harrass through Pmail. The one thing nice about mail is you can see it and delete it with out having to see the spam in it. ;-D
RIP Mr. Buckles, (unlike those here that have disrespected you on this thread), you were an actual honorable MAN.
I donno Buck, think MD's going to get baned at eLPee this time? I mean, how disrespectful can Sally be, not even showing MD he's enough of a player to ban him when he asks for it to be done. ;-D Think he has barked and screwed, barked and screwed, barked and screwed so much there she don't even care to turn his account off? Guess he'll just have to go back in three more months and give her another piece of his mind. That is, if he has a big enough piece left to give her.
There are no replies to Comment # 94. End Trace Mode for Comment # 94.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestBuckles lied about his age to join the army at age 16.
#64. To: buckeroo (#47)
"Often, a local judge with parental guidance and authorized signatures permitted this sort of minor infraction; it is always true during a war."
#69. To: Ferret Mike, sneakypete, Mad Dog (#64)
#70. To: buckeroo (#69)
(Edited)
What the HELL is Mad Dog's problem?
#79. To: Rek, Mad Dog (#70)
Another drama queen [Mad Dog] and energy stealer.
#80. To: buckeroo (#79)
#87. To: Ferret Mike (#80)
#88. To: Mad Dog (#87)
#89. To: Ferret Mike (#88)
#90. To: Mad Dog (#89)
#91. To: Ferret Mike (#90)
#94. To: Mad Dog, Buckeroo (#91)
Replies to Comment # 94.
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