Last Surviving American WWI Vet Honored

Frank Woodruff Buckles Served In France And Germany, Held POW In WWII For Almost 3 Years

(AP)  Frank Woodruff Buckles, the last known living American-born veteran of World War I, was honored Sunday at the Liberty Memorial during Memorial Day weekend celebrations.

"I had a feeling of longevity and that I might be among those who survived, but I didn't know I'd be the No. 1," the 107-year-old veteran said at a ceremony to unveil his portrait.

His photograph was hung in the main hallway of the National World War I Museum, which he toured for the first time, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States presented him with a gold medal of merit.

On Monday, he will be presented the American flag flying outside the memorial.

Buckles, who now lives in Charles Town, West Virginia, has been an invited guest at the Pentagon, met with President Bush in Washington, D.C., and rode in the annual Armed Forces Day Parade in his home state since his status as one of the last living from the "Great War" was discovered nearly two years ago.

Federal officials have also arranged for his burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

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 gained notoriety when he attended a Veteran's Day ceremony at the Arlington grave of Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing, who led U.S. forces in World War I, said his daughter, Susannah Flanagan.

He ended up on the podium and became a featured guest at the event, and the VIP invites and media interview requests came rolling in shortly afterward.

"This has been such a great surprise," Flanagan said. "You wouldn't think there would be this much interest in World War I. But the timing in history has been such and it's been unreal."

Buckles spent much of his museum tour Sunday looking at mementos of Pershing, whom he admired. He posed for pictures in front of a flag that used to be in Pershing's office and retold stories about meeting the famous general.

While Pershing claims most of the fame, Buckles now has a featured place at the museum.

"This is such an extraordinary occasion that we here at the museum decided that the photo of Mr. Buckles should be permanently installed in the main hallway here" said Brian Alexander, the museum's president and chief executive.

[thisandthat1]

When I think that my grandfather, who served in WW1, died 32 years ago an elderly man of 80 .... this is quite a feat. Best of luck to Mr Buckles and thank you for your service.

[cfin5]

I LOVE stories like this! What a great American,....he doesn''t look but 65 in this photo. The things that he has seen and done, how the world has changed. I could sit and talk to him for hours and hours. Want to live long like him and steer my posterity away from evil as long as I can. This man is definitely one you REMOVE your hat while in his presence,.....and watch your language!

[tootall10142]

WOW! A WAR HERO FROM ARKANSAS,THATEVERY ONE APPECIATES AND CARES ABOUT.WONDER ABOUT HIS GENE POOL?WOULDNT YOU LIKE TO HAVE THEM IN YOUR DNA STRING?

[sentry88]

Hey tell your writer that it is KANSAS CITY MO. NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT KANSAS CITY MISS. OFFENSIVE TO MISSOURIANS AND SHOWS THE EDITORS DONT PROFF THE ARTICLES

[edward1975-2009]

May he live to see many more.

[drivelphobe]

jamesm12341

Hung???

[yankeerebel7]

It will be weird that not so long from now we will be talking about the last WWII survivor.

[eXecuTech]

Don''t blame the writer for the KC, Miss boof. He/She didn''t write the dateline, some moron AP grunt with an even bigger moron editor did and nobody caught it. That''s bad editing, not bad authoring.

[ddkem]

The ''Liberty Memorial'' is located in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, Miss.

Same thing, either way.

[straightmate]

Such bungling, how on Earth did KC Miss. ever slide past the obviously incompetent editor. What a disgrace. I should have went to college.

[cbsguest6]

The men who served during WWI served our country under some harsh conditions. To them and to all veterans that have served our country thank you.

[michellem99-2009]

Thank you Sir. I am 53 and legally blind. You earnt every honour this nation America can and should award you. I have never met a WWI Vet. I have WW2 vets.
To the writer of the story It should be Kansas City MO. PROOF READ BEFORE YA PUT IN THE NEWS.

[ausmscmaj]

Sad, isn''t it? This veteran is 107 years old, and the nitwits choose not to honor him and his comrades but engage in a sophomoric discussion of whether the article should be KC MO or KC Miss!

A veteran myself, who has toured the WWI battlefields of Europe and seen the acres of white crosses in Arlington, I find this unsensitive and self-serving thread to be a disgrace to the memory of all soldiers.

Who really cares whether Kansas City is in "MO" or "Miss"? Actually, part of it is in "KS", or "Kan", anyway.

[fmrdem]

I thought this poem might be appropriate to share on this special day to honor all those who were unselfish enough to give service and make the ultimate sacrifice for their country:

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872- 1918)Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

[ssm9451]

Sad that he is being honored now, he should have been honored along time ago!! He and alot of other WWI vets.

[michellem99-2009]

babykiler change yer godd@m sheen name..I can be rude. I was raised to resect my elders. No body cares as ye brought up with no vaules. How ever ye kill for a dollar AND THINK NOTHING OF IT. A vet got me this computer. I am glad ye got two eyes that work..I pity ye more.

[michellem99-2009]

Dear Vets
Ye have done so much.
Got so little thanks
Some of ye blinded in combat
When ye came home
The white cane came into being.
Ye the reason it was made.
Now all blind vet and non vet
Benefit from its use
In 1930 The blinded vets
needed a tool to help them.
Thank ye vets
I never served
This day we honour
the war dead.

[obama8years]

This guy is a True Hero. Without Men like this we would not be able to freely give our opinions on the internet.

[hbevis]

I wish Mr. Frank Woodruff Buckles the very best. He is a very luck man to have lived 107 years. It is nice that he has been recognized at this late date. Anyone that served in WW-I had it rough.

[michellem99-2009]

Yep. I am a daugther of a Vet,,Babykiller take note.
Gram signed the papers as he was 17. This was before I was born. Dad felt a need to serve his nation. He is 73. The verse Dear Vets I wrote. I wrote a rew draft on this site. I have written it to Word. Barbara Ann M is my name and is my verse.

[patriot12436]

babykiller
There is no hope fo you. You have no idea of patriotism. Yet those of us who do will defend your right of ignorance so you may continue your dribble. We fought for this right even for the likes of you.

[tkathleen]

I would love to talk to this man of passion that is trying to get the World War I memorial made a National Monument. I saw the segment and was so impressed. What a wonderful heart you have.
How can I help?
Therese

[michellem99-2009]

I was raised to thank our Vets,love the Flag,Thank God Allmighty for what I have. And pity shove where ye will.. Place my paw over my heart. True I trully hate war. I will thank a person in uniform and I have right in front of others. I have met blind vets. I thank them. They are the reason I and other blind persons from birth have the white cane to use. Before that just a plain stick. My vet Dad taught me to think of others. A vet bought me this computer. Why. He cares. People today don''t.

[patriot12436]

This man should be honored for his service to his country. His title is a lonely one to bear being the last man standing. I salute this great vet.

[datgrl-2009]

Kansas City, MO has an incredible World War 1 memorial. It''s called the Liberty Memorial and overlooks the city. There is a wealth of information on WW1, the men AND women who fought. This memorial is a recognized National Park.

http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/

[datgrl-2009]

Kansas City, MO has an incredible World War 1 memorial. It''s called the Liberty Memorial and overlooks the city. There is a wealth of information on WW1, the men AND women who fought. This memorial is a recognized National Park.

www.libertymemorialmuseum.org

[michellem99-2009]

I have met sissies. They would rather wear their bloody earrings than raise their paw to serve. They were guys. There are them like this gent that serve. This may shock ye. I wanted to join years ago. My blindness. I say the girls are lucky. They can do more today.

[keithle1]

Hope the poor guy never has to spend any time in a VA hospital.

[michellem99-2009]

Keithle ye a vet..My room mate is a vet.. The Seattle VAMC..he goes there. It is free med care. But I tell him take yer cell..I told the nurse that called to asked how are they doing..Their bed manner gets low marks.