Frank Woodruff Buckles (February 1, 1901 – February 27, 2011) was one of the last three surviving World War I veterans and the last living American veteran of the war. Although not in the military at the time, Buckles spent the majority of World War II as a prisoner of war. After the world wars, Buckles married in San Francisco in 1946 and moved to Gap View Farm in Charles Town, West Virginia. His wife, Audrey, gave birth to their daughter in 1955.
A widower at age 98, he worked on his farm until age 105. In his last years, he was the Honorary Chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation, actively trying to have the District of Columbia War Memorial renamed the National World War I Memorial. Buckles was also a Shriner, a Freemason, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and a Church going man.
At the time of his death, Buckles was the oldest verified World War I veteran in the world, the second-oldest male military veteran in the world and the last field veteran of the war (though his role was medical in nature). He was increasingly honored during his last years, and was laid to rest on March 15, 2011 at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
That was an interesting post. What is more interesting is that I've never heard of him. He's never been mentioned here in Europe. The last French veteran of WW1 died last year (I think). He was very active, visiting schools and talking about the horrors of war.
ReplyDeleteWe must never forget that first war.