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Post by marjar on Feb 28, 2011 11:01:48 GMT -5
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — 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.
RIP
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Feb 28, 2011 11:03:04 GMT -5
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handyman2
Senior Member
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Post by handyman2 on Feb 28, 2011 11:06:27 GMT -5
May he rest in peace and God bless him.
He must have had a strong constitution to survive this long after having fought in a war where it seems the filth and disease of the trenches did about as many in as bullets, gas and bombs.
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mmhmm
Administrator
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 18:13:34 GMT -5
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Post by mmhmm on Feb 28, 2011 11:10:30 GMT -5
It sounds as though he was active and thoughtful to the end. May he rest peacefully.
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Tennesseer
Member Emeritus
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 21:58:42 GMT -5
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Post by Tennesseer on Feb 28, 2011 11:18:16 GMT -5
In 1918, My grandfather was 34-years-old where he served in the army during WWI. Such a long time ago.
Thank you for your service Frank Buckles.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Feb 28, 2011 11:41:08 GMT -5
...and let's remember he's a WWII vet, too, and a 3yr POW...  |
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Post by privateinvestor on Feb 28, 2011 11:46:17 GMT -5
Mr Buckles tried several times to enlist in the Marines and the Navy but was turned down because he was only 16 but kept trying to enlist in the Army and finally was successful after several tries even though he was two years younger than the required age of 18.... I knew of some guys in WWII who did the same thing or forged their Mother's signature allowing them to join at 17 because they were so Patriotic....probably will not see their like again in today's military
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burnsattornincan
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 23:05:21 GMT -5
Posts: 1,398
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Post by burnsattornincan on Feb 28, 2011 14:54:49 GMT -5
Sounds like a good chap. We need more of them, in a hurry.
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Feb 28, 2011 15:00:53 GMT -5
<<< Sounds like a good chap. We need more of them, in a hurry. >>>
...agreed... but can we have more of them than you guys, and in a bigger hurry than yours? ;D
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burnsattornincan
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 23:05:21 GMT -5
Posts: 1,398
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Post by burnsattornincan on Feb 28, 2011 15:06:44 GMT -5
I wish you the best. There really is not much other choice than for the good old chaps to step up and take over.
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Post by privateinvestor on Feb 28, 2011 15:07:19 GMT -5
Most of our WWII Veterans are now in their late 80s and their numbers are beginning to decrease each day. Mr Buckles was a very humble and modest man who didn't like all the fanfare about him. He was also quick to point out he never saw combat in WW1 and after spending 3 1/2 years in a Japanese POW Camp in the Philipines during WWII; he said that he never sought out danger but it just seemed to follow him around..
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Feb 28, 2011 15:09:21 GMT -5
...you betcha!  (LOL, couldn't resist, it's a good thing I laugh at my own jokes!)  |
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Post by BeenThere...DoneThat... on Feb 28, 2011 15:11:54 GMT -5
<<< Most of our WWII Veterans are now in their late 80s >>> ...we seriously need to run the Bataan Memorial March before there aren't any around to shake our hand at the finish line...  |
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