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Left: courtesy David DeJonge. Right: Karen Bleier / AFP - Getty Images file
Frank Buckles, who was the last surviving US World War I veteran. The photo on the left was taken in 1917, and the photo on the right was taken on June 18, 2008 when Buckles, then 107, was honored by members of Congress and veterans on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Frank Buckles, the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I, has died. He was 110.
Buckles, who also survived being a civilian POW in the Philippines in World War II, died peacefully of natural causes early Sunday at his home in Charles Town, biographer and family spokesman David DeJonge said in a statement. Buckles turned 110 on Feb. 1 and had been advocating for a national memorial honoring veterans of World War I in Washington, D.C.
Buckles lied about his age to join the army at age 16. The Missouri native was among nearly 5 million Americans who served in World War I in 1917 and 1918.
"I knew there'd be only one (survivor) someday. I didn't think it would be me," he was quoted as saying in recent years. Continue reading.
NBC's Bob Faw interviewed Frank Buckles in 2007, when he was 106 years old.
You can read more about Buckles' extraordinary life at the website for Pershing's Last Patriot, a documentary film slated for release this year.
The Veterans' History Project has fascinating archive material on Buckles' service, including historical photographs, audio and video interviews and his enlistment record from August 14th, 1917.
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I can only hope we all have the courage to step up like those before have!
Thank you my friend for being 100% American! Rest now you deserve it.
I think we pay so much attention to the Civil War, World War II, and the Vietnam War in this country, that we forget the importance of World War I (or only remember its importance in relation to WWII). This is a vet who did us proud.
This is who we should be celebrating as a hero instead of the egotistical people in hollywood. This gentleman put his life on the line because it was the right thing & expected nothing in return. He must have done something right to live to 110! May he rest in peace!
This is a very touching story. What perserverance and determination to survive and protect our country. Thank you and may you rest in peace.
The last doughboy has answered the bugles call home. Bless you Sir for your service.
Much respect for a true hero. RIP Frank Buckles.
You have earned your honors, Sir.
Rest in peace Sir. Your service and the service of others provide us with the liberties we have today, such as reading this article and using the internet to thank you and make comment, or what ever we desire to do. I wish more people who enjoy the liberty of being an American understood why being an American is an honor and a priviledge.
Rest now Sir, you have given us all the chance to see what a real American Hero is. I can only hope that I can be as dedicatd to life and country as you were. You will be missed by all.
Those caissons will be rolling along for you sir, as you reach your home.
As your time had come near, you pushed for a true memorieal for World War I, may this country continue the push until your dream is realised. May you rest in peace knowing you have done your duty, and others will carry on. I hope your family finds peace and comfort, and may you be remembered foundly and your memory passed on to future generations.
Whoever is first will be last and who
ever is last will be first, in the kingdom of
God. Prayers, Peace, Love
The men who fought in WWI gave much and deserve much. Like all wars, it was hell for those who lived it.
Now this man was brave, if the young who think they are the "gangsta's" , "hardasses" and , the "real deal" let's see them sign up and prove it. I doubt they could fill these shoes. It is great to know that regular kid's still sign up and prove their bravery every day. A great soldiers time like this never ends, he just receives new orders. God bless, soldier on.
Thank you Frank Buckles.
Thankyou for your service our nation mourns, may you rest in peace.
May the legacy of what our WWI veterans did for this country be remembered. God bless and farewell Corporal Buckles!
Frank was definitely a true American hero. I only hope we have many more like him in the coming generations to keep this country free so those coming ahead of us can still enjoy this "land of the free".
Rest in Peace Mr Buckles, the bugle has called taps for the last time for you sir.
No words can express the gratitude we feel for his service or our sorrow at his passing. What a remarkable individual he was, both humble and proud. May he rest in peace at last, he has gone to his final roll call.
To Frank Buckles
The last American "Doughboy"
Thank you Sir
to you and your generation
for keeping the world and America safe
RIP
Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is near.
Bravo Sir.
Real heros are those who go into situations to serve not realizing what they are getting into and perform. They do so with only the minimum of training and support without fully apprecaiting the cost it may extract. Having the gumption and desire to go in at 16 years of age and fight along and against men two, three or more years his age in defense and support of his country and France is what seperates Americans (of any flavor) from the rest of the world.
Frank is now proudly serving his new "Commnader in Chief" alongside so many others who gave so much, without complaining or asking what's in it for them.
On my dad's behalf and all those he served with and lost, God Bless you Mr. Buckles.
"without fully apprecaiting the cost it may extract"
Respectfully disagree. Men such as this knew all too well what cost may have been asked, but they counted the cost of cowardice, and responded with courage. They were men who placed the value of you and I - yet unborn - above their own safety and survival. Too bad we can't have that cross in the desert honoring men such as these.
Lest We Forget of SW MI made 4 visits to honor Frank. He was truly a great and gentle man with a very big heart. It will be a travesty if he is not allowed to be honored by the public with a showing in the Rotunda. He represents 4.7 million Americans, including my father, who served in WWI and the 60,000 killed. If Henry Clay and Rosa Parks can be displayed, then so can Frank Buckles!
It is an honor to bid Frank Buckles fairwell. Growing up in North Carolina I was privileged to have three Maternal Greatuncles; Gordon and Jessie Smith (brothers), and Nathan Beasley; who served in the US Army in World War I. All three were farm boys from Bentonville Township, over which the last large battle of the US Civil War was fought. All three came from a rich hertiage in which their fathers, uncles, and grandfathers had served and in some cases died in Military Service for their county during the US Civil War. They felt it an honor and obligation to serve their country. Fortunately, all three survived combat and lived to instill this sense of obligation to serve our county to other generations of our greater family. They could tell of the horrors of trench warfare, especially poison gas warfare. Only one of them was wounded; Nathan Beasley had a gas mask with a pin-hole leak in that allowed mustard gas to come in contact with his skin. The resulting wound caused his wavy back hair to kink into tight curles and fall out for the rest of his life. Uncle Nath survived and farmed until the age of 76, he was extremely lucky and never required a hair cut after that injury! The Smith brothers did not return to the farm after the war, but applied skills learned in the Army to raise and support their families.
I feel certain my Greatuncles will welcome Frank Buckles into their circle of brothers in war now brothers in Heaven!! We need to thank all those who served in ALL wars and never forget their sacrifices for our country.
He was a true hero. And all of you that are thanking him for his service to America, bless you as well. Our active military and Veterans need to hear that from us more. Whether we agree with whatever conflict politicians have gotten us into or not, these men and women are there for US. If you'd like to do MORE to show your respect and gratitude, check out volunteer.va.gov to see how you can be part of a big family that cares for its Heroes.
I, too, am so impressed with the integrity and valor of this simple man, who I expect when he was living tried to deflect attention from himself when he was widely and enthusiastically praised. Those are the real heroes in our lives. WWI in many historical accounts was one of the very worst wars ever fought so who knows to what extent his suffering and the hardships he endured reached.
One of the most refreshing things about this series of posts is that not one person has so far found a way to blame the President or anyone in Congress for anything connected with this exemplary soul. That proves it can be done, and I thank everyone for that.
thank you sir, & godspeed!
God bless each and every veteran of any war.