Frank Woodruff Buckles is the only living American-born veteran of World War I, as far as federal officials know. The 107-year-old veteran was honored at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City yesterday during Memorial Day celebrations.
Buckles is to attend a ceremony today in which he will be presented with the American flag from the memorial site. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jNYrbhwwpK2QFrtBHpEaPH0DFhkAD90SVBG00
(image credit: AP/Charlie Riedel)
Born in Missouri in 1901 and raised in Oklahoma, Buckles visited a string of military recruiters after the United States entered the "war to end all wars" in April 1917.
He was rejected by the Marines and the Navy, but eventually persuaded an Army captain he was 18 and enlisted, convincing him Missouri didn't keep public records of birth.
Buckles sailed for England in 1917 on the Carpathia, which is known for its rescue of Titanic survivors, and spent his tour of duty working mainly as a driver and a warehouse clerk in Germany and France. He rose to the rank of corporal and after Armistice Day he helped return prisoners of war to Germany.
Buckles later traveled the world working for the shipping company White Star Line and was in the Philippines in 1940 when the Japanese invaded. He became a prisoner of war for nearly three years.
Buckles is to attend a ceremony today in which he will be presented with the American flag from the memorial site. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jNYrbhwwpK2QFrtBHpEaPH0DFhkAD90SVBG00
(image credit: AP/Charlie Riedel)
Shut the F up. You have to try to make political hay out of an entire generation's gallant service to our nation.
God bless him and the hundreds of thousands who put up with trench warfare and being gassed so that pantywaists like you could be free.
"Frank Woodruff Buckles is the only living American-born veteran of World War I"
I am sure Mr Buckles wouldn't go around saying he's the last veteran, as it would be disrespectful of all the other veterans.
Franz Kunstler for one. Forgot that Germany has it's veterans too? Who are equally venerated.
The ANZACs still have a few "diggers" who march out every 25th of April.
Italy canada, the UK, Australia and USA al;l have veterans aged 107 or more.
There are also vets from Poland Finland and the Ukraine.
But hey the US is the country that with out a hint of self awareness holds an annual World series to which no one else is invited save Canada.
We're all aware of it dude. We just like calling it that to piss people like you off. Obviously it's working.
Too bad the war did not end all wars.
do you actually for even one second think that the REST OF THE WORLD gives a good god damn about the world series of ROUNDERS?
Good god, your conceit knows no bounds.
And as for "we call it that to annoy people like you" , yeah sure mate, all part of your Master Plan.
yawn.
DDT was commenting on Yawn and it is a good point.
As an aside, ain't no-one more ripped off in society than an ex-vet, especially a wounded one.