Last WW I US Vet dies.

[S&W645]

At age 110 in WV. Link Removed Story on him from last year.

 

[Red Hat]

I saw that on Fox News this morning. It brought back memories of my Grandfather that died in 1970. He lost a lung due Gas in WWI but never slowed down until the day he died. Link Removed

Maybe something good will come from this. Link Removed

RIP Frank!

 

[handgonnetoter]

Man, that sucks. I was watching the last episode of "The Pacific" last night, I have them on DVD, and was amazed at how few WW2 vets are left too. My Dad was a WW2 vet, but he died back in 1992. Our society looses somthing when we loose people like them.

 

[S&W645]

My grandfather also was gassed in WW 1 as a Sgt. He died in 1939 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after getting a notice that he was being called back to active duty and promoted to First LT.

 

[MI .45]

I would say that most American's outside of historians and war buffs would not even know what the conflict was about, where it took place, or how an entire generation of young men were all but obliterated. It is all but forgotten.
I have had the privilege of speaking at length with veterans of WW1. 3 family members were combatants on the Western Front - all were wounded but all survived. My service in south Asia was nothing compared to what these soldiers, sailors, and airmen experienced. I salute these men... a break in history has taken place with the passing of the last veteran of this, the Great War.

 

[S&W645]

Frank Buckles, last U.S. survivor of WWI, will be buried in Arlington thanks to efforts of former Milwaukie teacher | OregonLive.com May lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda if Congress permits.

 

[handgonnetoter]

My grandfather also was gassed in WW 1 as a Sgt. He died in 1939 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after getting a notice that he was being called back to active duty and promoted to First LT.

What? Thats incredible! Sorry to hear about that.

 

[Treo]

My grandfather also was gassed in WW 1 as a Sgt. He died in 1939 of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after getting a notice that he was being called back to active duty and promoted to First LT.

If nothing else gives you an idea of how bad WWI was, that should do it

 

[S&W645]

If nothing else gives you an idea of how bad WWI was, that should do it

That was his point. He could not take the thought of training and then sending all the younger folks off to a war like he had gone thru and suffered from for 21 years there after. About half his life as he died 3 days before his 43rd birthday.

 

[S&W645]

Missed this but think it's important.
http://davegranlund.com/cartoons/wp-content/uploads/color-buckles-wwi-vet.jpg

 

[MECHTESTER]

I hate to hear that about you grandfather. I had a great-granduncle that was gassed during WWI. He never really recovered from it and died a relatively young man.
My wife worked in a nursing home and a WWI vet was one of her patients in the early 90's. She said that he would cry and try to hide during thunderstorms. She said she spent as much time as she could to comfort him.

I cannot imagine being shelled continually while taking shelter knee deep in trench mud. What is even more horrifying is when the gas shells came in and you had to leave your trench and get into the open because the gas would sink in the trenches and your canvas mask couldn't keep it all out.

I am only 39, but I had the privilege to talk to a few WWI vets. Most vets I have known were from WWII. They were never graphic and mostly told colorful and humorous strories. As I have gotten older and learned a little more, I realize they didn't want other people to know the true horrors they faced. All those old vets have always been my heroes.

We as a nation are going to miss the WWI generation. They are gone, I just hope we have learned some lessons from them.

Rest in peace Mr. Buckles. Many thanks to you and your comrades who kept us free.