THE HEROIC DEATH OF OUR HERO "FRANK WOODRUFF BUCKLES"

 

 Today 11 years ago, on February 27, 2011, Frank Woodruff Buckles passed away aged 110, the last living U.S. First World War veteran.

Frank Buckles, born Wood Buckles, was born on February 1, 1901 into a farmer's family in Missouri.

When the United States entered the First World War in April 1917, Wood Buckles was just 16 years old but was seeking action and interested in getting involved in this war, which he felt was an important event.

Wood Buckles tried to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps but was turned down twice, first time for being too young (even when lying about being 18), second time for not being heavy enough. He then tried enlisting in the U.S. Navy, who turned him down with the excuse of being "flat-footed".

He then went to the U.S. Army, who asked him for a birth certificate to confirm his age, to which he explained "In Missouri, where I was born, there were no - they had no public record of births, and that it was in the family Bible."

When stating his full name as "Wood Buckles", he was informed no one could enlist without a middle name. So, he changed his name right then and there to "Frank Woodruff Buckles", which was the name of his uncle. Frank Buckles was accepted into the U.S. Army on August 13 or 14, 1917.

He soon joined the Ambulance Corps, being given a tip from a Sergeant that it was the way to be sent to France the quickest. Spending a few months of training at Fort Riley, Kansas, Frank Buckles boarded the RMS Carpathia for England in December 1917.

He was eventually sent to France at Saint-André-de-Cubzac near Bordeaux, far away from the front. Here Frank Buckles drove motorcycles and ambulances carrying the wounded:

"There was never a shortage of blown-up bodies that needed to be rushed to the nearest medical care. The British and French troops were in bad shape - even guys about my age looked old and tired. After three years of living and dying inside a dirt trench, you know the Brits and French were happy to see us "doughboys."

As time passed, Frank Buckles became more eager to get near the front, but before he knew of it the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.

When asked how he felt at the war's end, he answered: "Well, very disappointed, of course. I felt like I hadn't been anyplace. I didn't et to the front... That's what I felt I went over there for."

Although never getting the chance to fight German soldiers in the war, he did eventually get to to see them up close. Following the Armistice, Frank Buckles was given the assignment of escorting 650 German POWs back to Germany by train.

During this assignment Frank Buckles developed a good relationship with the German prisoners, who were fond of their young captor, who offered them chocolate and cigarettes.

In return, the German POWs gave him an array of souvenirs, such as gray uniform cap, a knife with von Hindenburg' silhouette on the side, and a "Gott Mit Uns" belt buckle, which he kept for the rest of his life.

On November 13, 1919 Frank Buckles was formally and honorably discharged from service with the rank of Corporal, aged 18.

I won't get too specific into Frank Buckles' post-war life, although I will mention that during WW2, employed by a overseas shipping company, he was taken prisoner in January 1942 by Japanese forces in the Philippines, spending the next 3 years and 2 months as a civilian internee in Japanese prison camps.

On December 12, 2008, U.S. Army First World War veteran Harry Richard Landis passed away aged 108, making Frank Buckles the last living U.S. First World War veteran.

On February 27, 2011, exactly 10 years ago today, Frank Woodruff Buckles passed away aged 110 and 26 days, the 3rd last living First World War veteran. He rests in the Arlington National Cemetery.

R.I.P. 🙏🥀🇱🇷

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