Oldest U.S. WWI Vet Dies in Ohio at 109

[Atterbury Dodd]

One of the last WWI vets dies at 109

I'm sad to bring the news. One of the last WWI veterans has died. There are now three WWI vets in the US-- one served in the Canadian army during WWI, so he is not a US Veteran (there are also a few veterans in other countrys). I know it has to happen, but it seems hard to say goodbye to the WWI generation. My great grandfather was a WWI vet, and so was my great uncle, both of whom I never met, but feel very close to from the stories told about them by my Mom, Mima, and Granddaddy.

Story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317766,00.html

The WWI veterans deserve equally with WWII vets, the title of "a great generation." This November I had one of the greatest experiences of my life. I got to meet and interview for two and-a half hours, Frank Buckles 106, of Charles Town WV. He is the last surviving US vet that made it to Europe. His adventures in WWI and after are some of the most incredible human ears would have the fortune to hear. And all true. He left home very young, and enlisted under age. He never got into the action, although he tried some of the most amazing stunts to get there. After the war he escorted German prisoners of war back to Germany. When he got back to the US he got to meet General Pershing at a reception. During the 20's, he got a job on a shipping line and traveled the world, impressing his employers with his fine tailored clothing ( he didn't really have much money when he started the job)

In WWII he was captured by the Japanese on one of his trips(he was not in the army in WWII) He spent three and a half years in Japanese prisons. He and the other prisoners were rescued by the 11th Airborne Division on 23 February 1945. The Japanese were planning to kill them all that same day, but luckily for Mr. Buckles-- and us-- they were thwarted by amazing strategy. The raid on the Los Banos prison camp were Frank Buckles was held, is now considered one of the great tactical moves of history, because it was planned and executed with incredible precision. After the war he married, and has farmed since. I say that because he is still basically running his farm( he is still VERY sharp). Getting to hear him talk turned the time clock back bright and clear, and for a while I could see the past through his stories. Truly a wonderful thing for me, a young man of 19. I shall always treasure the autograph he signed for me.


So, it will be very hard to say goodbye. Meeting Mr. buckles has made all those that fought in WWI real to me. When the last one goes, the last tie with my great Grandfathers "Great generation" will be gone, except that they will still linger on in the stories told by those that knew them.

Rest brave men--in a repose well deserved.

 

[Hondo]

I didn't see this which is why I deleted mine, my own Grandfather was a WWI vet, passed away in 68, this guy lived a good life, all veterans should be remembered. R.I.P. sir

 

[J. M. Stovall]

My Grandfather was a WWI vet too. He passed away in '88 at the age of 92. I wish now I would have talked to him more about those experiences.

 

[Fletch]

Strange...as far as I know, I have no relatives on either side of my family who served in WW1. Both my grandfathers were in that tiny slice of men born in 1900-'03 who were too young to be drafted in WW1 and too old in WW2.

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

Strange...as far as I know, I have no relatives on either side of my family who served in WW1. Both my grandfathers were in that tiny slice of men born in 1900-'03 who were too young to be drafted in WW1 and too old in WW2.

I was surprised to find out my great Grandfather served in WWI, because I asked my Mom, and she said no, but after my Granddad heard about my interview with Frank Buckles, he said, "my father served in WWI. I have a picture I would like to show you." When my Mom heard that she was very suprised."Granddad(my great Granddad) never told us that he was in the army in WWI," my Mom said.

So you could, you never know! I might have never known if Granddady hadn't told me.

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

My Grandfather was a WWI vet too. He passed away in '88 at the age of 92. I wish now I would have talked to him more about those experiences.

He looks very dashing. I have a picture of my Great Uncle, wish I could put pictures on here.

You know, the WWI vets should be something Loungers should be interested in. Bogart: WWI vet. Leslie Howard:WWI vet. I could list more but I think that makes my point; an era didn't just start, something came before, and it did shape the next eras. I think Bogart got his lisp scar in WWI. Leslie Howard took on acting to therepy shell shock.

 

[Hondo]

my grandfather in Fance 1917, as second Lt. same unit as Sgt. York.
WWI 82nd Division (AA) Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.

Between April and July, 1918, less than a year after its formation, the division deployed in small unit groups to France to fight in World War I as the 82nd Infantry Division. In nearly five months of combat the 82nd fought in three major campaigns and helped to break the German Imperial Army. Alvin Cullum York was a soldier in the division and became famous for his heroism in World War I. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, killing 20 German soldiers and capturing 132 others.

* World War I Casualties

1. 1,298 Killed in Action
2. 6,248 Wounded in Action

After the Great War, the 82nd was demobilized May 27, 1919 at Camp Upton, at Yaphank, New York. The 82nd was reconstituted on June 24, 1921 in the Organized Reserves as Headquarters, 82nd Division, and was organized on September 23, 1921 at Columbia, South Carolina.

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

my grandfather in Fance 1917, as second Lt. same unit as Sgt. York.
WWI 82nd Division (AA) Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.

Wow, that is really something! I read a book about Sgt. York. Of course I've seen the movie with Gary Cooper-- doesn't always stick to real life, but it's good.

My Grand Uncle served in the Rainbow Division, and saw a lot of action. He was a really nice guy and loved kids. I almost feel like I know him from my Mima's stories. Wish I could have met him...

 

[Boris K]

.

My grandfather was in the 1st Cav in WWI (and fighting Pancho Villa). Not much info from the family, except a few Army buddies briefly discussing charging machine gun nests, etc. in front of my mother when she was very young...

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

My grandfather was in the 1st Cav in WWI (and fighting Pancho Villa). Not much info from the family, except a few Army buddies briefly discussing charging machine gun nests, etc. in front of my mother when she was very young...

Pancha Villa, wasn't that the Mexican border problem right before WWI?

I might be able to tell you something interesting about that, if it's the same incident I have in mind.

 

[Boris K]

.

Pancha Villa, wasn't that the Mexican border problem right before WWI?

I might be able to tell you something interesting about that, if it's the same incident I have in mind.

Yes, that's the same fellow.

 

[cookie]

Aussie WWI Vets

Sad to say there are no more vets from WWI in A/A. The last died last year or the year before.

MY grandfather, Pte James W Boots, was a Gallipoli veteran who was shot and wounded at Lone Pine. His service in WWI lasted 10 days!

The amazing thing is that he was born in 1870 and thus already 45 when he joined up (illegally) as the maximum age for enlistmant was 44. He just did what they did which was to alter their birth certificate.

They wanted to cut his leg off in 1915 and he refused. They cut it off in 1957 when he was 87. He then was given a prosthetic leg. Bizarrely he decided to go on a "walk" of some 15 miles and collapsed - HALF WAY ON THE WAY BACK! He died not long afterwards...

On the paternal side James Cooke RN was a British navy guy from Liverpool wh coxed in the whaleboats that landed the troops....there is one at the front entrance of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra that CW Bean the WWI official historian brought back in 1919. He had a life long mate who I later found out was like him.... the only one left when the Turks strafed the boat with machine gun fire and they managed to jump overboard.

They will never make a generation of blokes like that again. RIP