Last Surviving US World War One Veteran Turns 108

SSGMike.Ivy · 02-02-2009, 03:56 PM

WHAG-TV
updated 9:45 p.m. ET, Sat., Jan. 31, 2009

CHARLES TOWN, WV - The last surviving veteran of World War One will turn 108-years-old on Sunday.

Frank Woodruff Buckles is living history but for the country's last surviving world war one veteran turning 108-years-old doesn't feel particular momentous.

To many Mr. Buckles is truly something special and Lest We Forget is veteran's groups out of Michigan. When they found out Mr. Buckles didn't have a flag pole on his Charles Town farm they knew that had to change.

Don Alsboro is the president of Lest We Forget and he discussed what their purpose was, Our purpose is to honor veterans, and there's only one living WWI veteran, and we need to go to West Virginia to honor him.

Bob Heft is the designer of the current American flag and he said, when I found out about Mr Buckles I thought I thought that's something I just it's one of those things you have to do."

Bob Heft signed the one flag that's now flying at Mr Buckles farm and that flag has fifty stars but when Buckles was born the flag only had forty five stars.

This flag pole has been placed in such a way that Mr. Buckles can sit inside his house and still be able to see it while looking out his window.

The veterans gave Mr. Buckles another flag, The Spirit of America Flag, that honors vets from all Americas wars.

That flag was also designed by another member of "Lest We Forget".

When asked how will he celebrate his birthday he said he'll be celebrating with a nice dinne

Elven6 · 02-02-2009, 04:07 PM

The title was a bit misleading, I though another one of the British veterans had passed away. Regardless Happy Belated Birthday Frank, and here's to many more!

Gotthard Heinrici · 02-02-2009, 04:14 PM

I hope he has a great birthday. Wonder about his service record - where did he serve?

Paul Reed · 02-02-2009, 04:57 PM

I just amended the title so it was clearer what the topic was about.

Drew5233 · 02-02-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gotthard Heinrici

I hope he has a great birthday. Wonder about his service record - where did he serve?

I agree, I bet that would make interesting reading

Happy Birthday old chap

Peter Clare · 02-02-2009, 05:13 PM

Happy birthday Frank, you deserve it.

Passchendaele_Baby · 02-02-2009, 10:27 PM

=]
Happpy Birthday!

MLW · 02-02-2009, 11:45 PM

Here is some information about Frank Buckles' service from Wikipedia:

Frank Buckles enlisted at the beginning of the United States' involvement in World War I in April 1917. In 1917, the sixteen-year-old Buckles was sent to France on the RMS Carpathia, the same ship that had rescued the survivors of the Titanic sinking five years before. During the war, Buckles drove ambulances and motorcycles for the 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment section of the U.S Army. After the Armistice in 1918, Buckles escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. Following his discharge, in 1919, he attended the dedication of the National World War I Museum in Kansas for those who died in World War I and there he met General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing. Mr. Buckles returned to Germany in 1936 and would stay there until 1938, where he met Adolf Hitler. Before World War II, in the 1920s, he worked for the White Star Line in Canada. During World War II, Buckles was a civilian working for an American shipping company in the Philippines. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and spent three years in a prison camp Los Banos and was rescued on February 23, 1945.

Cheers, Marc

Drew5233 · 03-02-2009, 01:32 AM

Thanks Marc

SSGMike.Ivy · 03-02-2009, 01:54 AM

Here is Frank's website

Home Page

02-02-2009, 03:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
SSGMike.Ivy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 109	Last Surviving US World War One Veteran Turns 108 WHAG-TV updated 9:45 p.m. ET, Sat., Jan. 31, 2009 CHARLES TOWN, WV - The last surviving veteran of World War One will turn 108-years-old on Sunday. Frank Woodruff Buckles is living history but for the country's last surviving world war one veteran turning 108-years-old doesn't feel particular momentous. To many Mr. Buckles is truly something special and Lest We Forget is veteran's groups out of Michigan. When they found out Mr. Buckles didn't have a flag pole on his Charles Town farm they knew that had to change. Don Alsboro is the president of Lest We Forget and he discussed what their purpose was, Our purpose is to honor veterans, and there's only one living WWI veteran, and we need to go to West Virginia to honor him. Bob Heft is the designer of the current American flag and he said, when I found out about Mr Buckles I thought I thought that's something I just it's one of those things you have to do." Bob Heft signed the one flag that's now flying at Mr Buckles farm and that flag has fifty stars but when Buckles was born the flag only had forty five stars. This flag pole has been placed in such a way that Mr. Buckles can sit inside his house and still be able to see it while looking out his window. The veterans gave Mr. Buckles another flag, The Spirit of America Flag, that honors vets from all Americas wars. That flag was also designed by another member of "Lest We Forget". When asked how will he celebrate his birthday he said he'll be celebrating with a nice dinne __________________ SSGMike.Ivy Vietnam Veteran D Co 3/8th 4th Infantry Division "Steadfast and Loyal" October 1968-October 1969 US Army Retired 1998 Last edited by Paul Reed; 02-02-2009 at 04:56 PM.

02-02-2009, 04:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gotthard Heinrici The Wiggles are ok! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,548	I hope he has a great birthday. Wonder about his service record - where did he serve? __________________ *"The Eastern front is like a house of cards. If the front is broken through at one point all the rest will collapse."* - General Heinz Guderian Lead Singer with PROUDFOOT

02-02-2009, 04:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Paul Reed Ubique Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent/France Posts: 5,498	I just amended the title so it was clearer what the topic was about. __________________ "The only way you get out of infantry is on a stretcher or six feet under..." Battlefields of WW2: The Guide to visiting WW2 Battlefields. www.ww2battlefields.com

02-02-2009, 05:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Peter Clare Legendary Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Second star to the right, straight on till morning. Posts: 10,986	Happy birthday Frank, you deserve it. __________________ Avatar - Liberator I AM917 F/120 Squadron RAF Coastal Command. Top U-boat killers of WW2

02-02-2009, 10:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Passchendaele_Baby ~HiSiNfErNaLmAjEsTy~ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: I'm A Buller Baby!! =] Posts: 1,121	=] Happpy Birthday! __________________ Sorrow rebuild me as I step out of the light Misery strengthen me as I say my goodbyes I heal my wounds with greif And dream of you And weep myself alive Our Fate Is Not Six, Six, Six, Our Fate Is Six Sixteen Baby!

02-02-2009, 04:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Elven6 Discharged Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 838	The title was a bit misleading, I though another one of the British veterans had passed away. Regardless Happy Belated Birthday Frank, and here's to many more!

02-02-2009, 11:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
MLW Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 137	Here is some information about Frank Buckles' service from Wikipedia: Frank Buckles enlisted at the beginning of the United States' involvement in World War I in April 1917. In 1917, the sixteen-year-old Buckles was sent to France on the RMS Carpathia, the same ship that had rescued the survivors of the Titanic sinking five years before. During the war, Buckles drove ambulances and motorcycles for the 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment section of the U.S Army. After the Armistice in 1918, Buckles escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. Following his discharge, in 1919, he attended the dedication of the National World War I Museum in Kansas for those who died in World War I and there he met General of the Armies John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing. Mr. Buckles returned to Germany in 1936 and would stay there until 1938, where he met Adolf Hitler. Before World War II, in the 1920s, he worked for the White Star Line in Canada. During World War II, Buckles was a civilian working for an American shipping company in the Philippines. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and spent three years in a prison camp Los Banos and was rescued on February 23, 1945. Cheers, Marc __________________ www.maginotlineatwar.com

03-02-2009, 01:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
Drew5233 'Certa Cito' Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 12,002	Thanks Marc __________________ Combat Communicators of the British Army

03-02-2009, 01:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
SSGMike.Ivy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 109	Frank Buckles website Here is Frank's website Home Page __________________ SSGMike.Ivy Vietnam Veteran D Co 3/8th 4th Infantry Division "Steadfast and Loyal" October 1968-October 1969 US Army Retired 1998

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