Last U.S. World War I veteran Frank W. Buckles dies at 110

[madinmaryland]

Frank W. Buckles died early Sunday, sadly yet not unexpectedly at age 110, having achieved a singular feat of longevity that left him proud and a bit bemused.

In 1917 and 1918, close to 5 million Americans served in World War I, and Mr. Buckles, a cordial fellow of gentle humor, was the last known survivor. "I knew there'd be only one someday," he said a few years back. "I didn't think it would be me."

His daughter, Susannah Buckles Flanagan, said Mr. Buckles, a widower, died of natural causes on his West Virginia farm, where she had been caring for him.

Buckles' distant generation was the first to witness the awful toll of modern, mechanized warfare. As time thinned the ranks of those long-ago U.S. veterans, the nation hardly noticed them vanishing, until the roster dwindled to one ex-soldier, embraced in his final years by an appreciative public.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/28/AR2011022800165.html?hpid=topnews

RIP, Mr. Buckles.

[DainBramaged]

1. "the nation hardly noticed them vanishing",

The same will be said about thse who fought in WWII soon.

[Kolesar]

5. I don't agree about either war

The public funded programs for veterans of both wars, eventually. There are commemerations at Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, and Armistice Day. Veterans got preferential hiring for federal jobs. Veterans are featured at sports and cultural events.

There's all the movies and that Greatest Generation series.

[DainBramaged]

7. I see. so you're stating they are paid too much attention?

Wow, we celebrate them with a few parades that no one goes to.........your reply strikes me as cynical........

[elocs]

2. From yesterday afternoon:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4751202

[Deep13]

3. My geat grandpa was in W.W.I.

He died in the 1980s.

[Kolesar]

4. And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?"

And now every April I sit on my porch
And I watch the parade pass before me
And I watch my old comrades, how proudly they march
Reliving old dreams of past glory
And the old men march slowly, all bent, stiff and sore
The forgotten heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question
And the band plays Waltzing Matilda
And the old men answer to the call
But year after year their numbers get fewer
Some day no one will march there at all

http://www.pogues.com/Releases/Lyrics/LPs/RumSodomy/Waltzing.html

[HereSince1628]

6. Having been held in the arms of WWI veterans as a baby

I take a moment to say a final good-bye to a generation who believed in a better tomorrow, the tomorrow I had a chance to live as my yesterdays and today.

My grandfather was the only man I ever knew who could name the cabinet members of every president of the US from Washington to Nixon. He was proud of his service, he was more proud of the Republic. He taught me that there is no more important service than the service we do today for those who will live TOMORROW. That belief shaped me. It led me into seeking truth about things unknown, a PHD in science, and life as a college professor.

Today, in Wisconsin we are fighting for TOMORROW. In many ways that is the same fight as Doughboys from Wisconsin fought. They risked all in the overly optimistic hope to end war. FOREVER. God Bless Optimism!

The generation of great grandfathers to today's veterans is now gone. I can only hope that their grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren live up to the dreams they believed were to be our reality!