The Last American Veteran of World War I dies at 110

On Tuesday March 1, 2011,  USA Today printed an article about the last American World War I veteran who died this past Sunday on February 27, 2011.  His name was Frank Buckles.  I'm going to share the USA Today article with you.  I hope you enjoy the story.

Frank Buckles at age 15Buckles with the American flag

As the last American survivor of World War I, Frank Buckles was a champion for his fellow soldiers, pushing for a memorial on the National Mall.  Buckles, who died Sunday at 110 at his home in Charles Town, W.Va., urged a Senate Committee in 2009 to refurbish an existing World War I memorial to Washington, D.C., troops and rededicate it as a national tribute. 

Democratic Senators Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Jim Webb of Virginia marked his Feb. 1 birthday by reintroducing a bill to rename the local memorial the National World War I Memorial.  President Obama said in a written statement that he and first lady Michelle Obama were inspired by Buckles' service and life story.  "Just as Frank continued to serve American 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."

During a trip to Washington in 2008, friend and family spokesman David DeJonge said Buckles saw the memorials for World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars and thought there was a gap.  "What was missing was a memorial to his generation,"  DeJonge said. 

DeJonge, president of the World War I Memorial Foundation, made Buckles the honorary chairman.  "I gave him my word I'll see it through," DeJonge said Monday.  Only two known veterans of World War I remain, the Associated Press reported: Florence Green, 110, in Britain and Claude Choules, 109, in Australia.  There are about 2 million U.S. veterans of World War II still alive. 

Buckles lied about his age to join the Army at 15.  He had already been turned away by the Marines and the Navy.  Aware of the looming war, Buckles was eager to join, he told "Stars and Stripes" in 2008.  "A 15-year-old boy is not scared of anything," he said.  By August 1917, he was on his way to Europe at age 16.  He chauffeured VIPs, guarded German prisoners and drove ambulances in France and England.  Buckles died in his sleep early Sunday.  On Saturday night, DeJonge had dinner with Buckles' daughter, Susannah Flanagan, and they talked about "how good Papa was doing," DeJonge said. 

Buckles, a believer in physical fitness who kept 3- and 4-pound weights near his chair, had taught calisthenics at different times in his life.  After World War I, Buckles went to work in the shipping business, which took him to South America and Asia.  In 1941, while moving cargo for the American President Lines in Manila, he was captured in the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.  During 3.5 years as a prisoner of war, Buckles led the other prisoners in exercises.  "What is important in an emergency is to know how to survive," he told "Stars and Stripes."