From the diaries by Bill S.
Update from Erick: The U.S. Naval Institute has more here.
Frank Buckles, the last of the 4,734,991 Americans who served in World War I, has passed away. When you think of most kids today, his story is just staggering.
He was born on a Missouri farm when William McKinley was President. When the US entered WWI in April 1917, he had turned 16 barely two months earlier, but was determined to enlist.
After being rejected by Marine and Navy recruiters, Buckles tried the Army. When the recruiter asked to see his birth certificate, Buckles said Missouri didn’t keep birth records when he was born and the only record was what was written in the family Bible.
That was good enough for the Army and he enlisted that August at age 16-1/2. He said a sergeant told him, “If you want to get to France in a hurry, then join the ambulance service.” He did that and was on his way to England by that December. He wanted to get closer to the fighting and was eventually sent to France, then after the war ended he helped bring POWs back to Germany.
After leaving the Army as a Corporal, he ended up getting a job with a shipping company and traveling all over the world. As luck would have it, he was in Manila when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor a few hours before bombing and invading the Philippines. He ended up in Japanese POW camps until 1945 when his was liberated.
He got married several years later and moved to a farm in West Virginia, where he still drove his own car and tractor until he was 102. His wife died in 1999, the same year he was awarded the French Legion of Honor.
In 2008 he became the oldest surviving WWI vet, which of course got him some attention in Washington (including a visit to the White House with George W. Bush) and beyond. George Will wrote a nice column about him. Not everything in WV is named after Robert C. Byrd – then-Gov Joe Manchin named a section of WV Route 9 in his honor at the time.
RIP Corporal Buckles!
Neil Stevens
Moe Lane
Caleb Howe
Erick Erickson
Dan McLaughlin
Dan Spencer
Great Diary
jcrestonm (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 2:00PM EDT (link)Great article. From what I understand there is only one WWI Vet left (an British man living in Australia). He was truly an exceptional man from a bygone era.
Ronald Reagan: “I notice that everybody who is Pro-Abortion has already been born.”
There are two Brits left apparently
bk (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 2:47PM EDT (link)According to this Wikipedia article (insert appropriate disclaimers), the only two left are an English seaman and an English woman who was a waitress in the Air Force. The guy has apparently lived in Australia since the 1930s.
Thanks for bringing this up – it was interesting to do a little more digging.
2017? Okay! ;)
Cheetah772 (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 2:41PM EDT (link)See your error in your diary?
Daniel 2:20 And he [God] changeth the times and seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.
Yikes! Fixed. Thanks for catching it. -nt
bk (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 2:43PM EDT (link)Thanks bk.
TNJim (Diary) Monday, February 28th at 3:29PM EDT (link)We can never give these brave men and women enough honor. Good diary.
God Bless Mr. Buckles. I followed news reports of him
throwback59 Monday, February 28th at 4:05PM EDT (link)these last few years. A real gentlemen and patriot.
It was One Hell of a Life Corporal Buckles
flannery Monday, February 28th at 6:53PM EDT (link)Godspeed and God bless. Thank you for your service.
You said it so well flannery!
grammy1 Tuesday, March 1st at 10:26AM EDT (link)The most interesting men I have ever known have been military men. That definately includes my dear father who was also a WWI vet.
A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves. Edward R. Murrow
This is one of those stories that
conservativemountaineer Monday, February 28th at 9:24PM EDT (link)make you realize that maybe, just maybe, you haven’t done enough. It does for me.
As a West Virginia native and former resident, I am truly honored you selected our State to reside.
Thank you and God Bless You, Corporal Buckles. You will be missed.
Just because the cloud has a silver lining doesn’t mean it’s not going to rain.
We Have Lost More Than The People
edintexas Tuesday, March 1st at 9:57AM EDT (link)We have lost more than the people who fought in the wars of the 20th Century, and have passed on. We have lost quite a bit of history with them. Some of it simply family history, but quite a bot of it stretching well beyond the family. We need to talk with people whom we know to have been part of any historical event, if they are comfortable speaking with us. If possible, we should write down their (or our own, for that matter) experiences and at least pass this on to our families.
I’ve spoken with a couple of WW II vets, and a Great Uncle who was a WW I and WW II vet. I still wish I had spent more time with these men discussing their experiences. I have found that it is easier to get these men to talk with another combat vet, so those of us from RVN on should at least attempt to gain some oral history from our elders. I still regret the wasted opportunities from my early military days when I served with WW II and Korea vets and failed to take advantage of that proximity.
I agree
myron_j_poltroonian Tuesday, March 1st at 12:39PM EDT (link)We should, as most of the real combat vets I’ve known are rather taciturn and must be gently prompted to tell their stories. Oral histories tend to fade and/or change over time. With todays miniaturized recording equipment – and permission – it should become an endeavor of remembrance and relief. For both of you.
Walt Disney also drove in WWI.
uselogic Tuesday, March 1st at 3:19PM EDT (link)Just goes to show the wonderful breadth of patriotic Americans. Similar to Cpl. Buckles, Walt was first turned down by the Army for being too young (16), so he and a buddy altered their birth certificates and joined the Red Cross as ambulance drivers. They were sent to France to drive, like Frank Buckles.
Just a little modestly-related trivia.
Walt Disney also drove in WWI.
uselogic Tuesday, March 1st at 3:19PM EDT (link)Just goes to show the wonderful breadth of patriotic Americans. Similar to Cpl. Buckles, Walt was first turned down by the Army for being too young (16), so he and a buddy altered their birth certificates and joined the Red Cross as ambulance drivers. They were sent to France to drive, like Frank Buckles.
Just a little modestly-related trivia.
It is heartening to see
johnstoirvin (Diary) Wednesday, March 2nd at 12:25PM EDT (link)the deserved respect shown here for Cpl. Frank Buckles. It is however, disheartening that so many choose to show little or no respect for those who have served and sacrificed and, if they are moved to show some appreciation, it comes on only one day a year.
Memorial Day
Surrounded by the warmth of May
With thoughts of those who died
To preserve our hard won rights of men
Calls forth a sense of pride.
To think so many gave to me
The gift of living free
Means more than humble words can say
And more than some can see.
A life cut short, a family’s loss,
The tears of sad recall
Evolve into a deep respect
For those who saved us all.
They gave their lives that we remain
A free and sovereign land,
Without their selfless sacrifice
Our country could not stand.
This day each year we set aside,
Mourn not that they are gone,
But thank them from our deepest heart
For all that they have done.
Remaining days throughout the year,
Reserved for work and play,
Should pass with equal gratitude
We freely show this day.