Old Project Avalon Forum (ARCHIVE) - View Single Post - MEMORIAL DAY ~ Tribute to our Heroes ~ "All Gave Some, Some Gave All"

peaceandlove · 05-23-2009, 06:56 PM

Last American WWI Survivor

Today on Yahoo Video (2:30): http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5138565/13610008

Frank Buckles, 107, old-school survivor (NOW 108 in 2009)

Insights into war and life from the last U.S. veteran of World War I

By Emily Brown, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, May 18, 2008

"I realize now I was very young."

Frank Buckles was 16 and lied about his age to the Army so he could enlist and go to Europe. It was 1917 and the country was facing the "war to end all wars."

Now, at 107, he is America’s last living World War I veteran. At his farmhouse in West Virginia, he looks back at it all — driving ambulances in WWI, working on ships all over the world and surviving WWII in a prison camp — and he laughs.

A serious situation

Well read from a young age, Buckles was very aware of the brooding war. He wanted to go.

"A 15-year-old boy is not scared of anything," he said matter-of-factly.

Article continues with photos and timeline: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?s...3&archive=true

05-23-2009, 06:56 PM	#2
peaceandlove Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Turtle Island Posts: 2,776	Last American WWI Survivor Last American WWI Survivor Today on Yahoo Video (2:30): http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5138565/13610008 Frank Buckles, 107, old-school survivor (NOW 108 in 2009) Insights into war and life from the last U.S. veteran of World War I By Emily Brown, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, Sunday, May 18, 2008 "I realize now I was very young." Frank Buckles was 16 and lied about his age to the Army so he could enlist and go to Europe. It was 1917 and the country was facing the "war to end all wars." Now, at 107, he is America’s last living World War I veteran. At his farmhouse in West Virginia, he looks back at it all — driving ambulances in WWI, working on ships all over the world and surviving WWII in a prison camp — and he laughs. A serious situation Well read from a young age, Buckles was very aware of the brooding war. He wanted to go. "A 15-year-old boy is not scared of anything," he said matter-of-factly. Article continues with photos and timeline: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?s...3&archive=true Last edited by peaceandlove; 05-23-2009 at 07:17 PM.