Frank Buckles

Frank Buckles, born on February first, nineteen oh one, was a distinguished United States Army corporal and the last surviving American military veteran of World War I. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the tender age of sixteen in nineteen seventeen, serving with a detachment from Fort Riley. His duties included driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in Europe, showcasing his bravery and commitment during a tumultuous time.

During World War II, at the age of forty, Buckles faced a different kind of challenge when he was captured by Japanese forces while working in the shipping business. He endured three years as a civilian prisoner in the Philippines, a testament to his resilience and fortitude in the face of adversity.

After the war, Buckles settled in San Francisco, where he married and later moved to Gap View Farm near Charles Town, West Virginia. Even as a widower at the age of ninety-eight, he continued to work on his farm until he reached the remarkable age of one hundred five, embodying a spirit of perseverance and dedication to his land.

In his later years, Buckles served as the honorary chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation, advocating for the establishment of a memorial to honor the sacrifices of his fellow soldiers. He campaigned for the renaming of the District of Columbia War Memorial to the National World War I Memorial, testifying before Congress and meeting with President George W. Bush to further this cause.

His contributions were recognized with several honors, including the World War I Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, awarded retroactively in nineteen forty-one. In nineteen ninety-nine, he received the prestigious French Legion of Honor. Frank Buckles passed away on March fifteenth, two thousand eleven, and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, where he received full military honors, with President Barack Obama paying his respects.