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The last doughboy passes
CNN Senior National Editor Dave Schechter has written extensively about World War I veterans. He filed this blog post after learning of the death of the war's last U.S. veteran:
I never met Frank Buckles, the last American veteran of World War I, who died at 110-years-old in his sleep early Sunday at his farm in West Virginia.
Nonetheless, I feel a loss because over the past 20-plus years I was drawn into a small community of people who kept track of the dwindling numbers of American veterans of “The War To End All Wars.”
My professional interest began many years ago when my wife, then a producer at CNN, worked on a project about centenarians and brought home the newspaper of an organization for World War I veterans and their families. On the personal side, my mother’s father trained as a pilot at Kelly Field in Texas but never deployed, while my father’s father served in the American Expeditionary Force in Europe, likely inhaled poison gas and served as the allied military’s legal authority in a sector of Germany (an experience he wrote about for The Sunday New York Times Magazine).
Among those most keenly devoted to the surviving doughboys has been David DeJonge, a portrait photographer from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who devoted countless hours to photographing World War I veterans and bringing attention to their stories. In recent years, DeJonge accompanied Buckles to the White House, the Pentagon, the Capitol and a small, tree-shrouded memorial to the World War I troops from the District of Columbia on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Others with this particular bent have included a now-retired employee of the Veterans Administration, who patiently answered my questions when it came time for my annual note on the numbers of living veterans from America’s wars; the woman who worked for another federal agency full-time but who, on her own time, ran that organization for WWI veterans until their ranks were reduced to only a few dozen; and the radio producer from Texas, who recorded interviews with several of the last survivors for a public radio special narrated by Walter Cronkite.
DeJonge is among those publicly advocating creation on the National Mall of a national memorial to World War I. Just last week in West Virginia, he announced creation of the National World War I Legacy Project, which will include a documentary DeJonge is producing about Buckles titled “Pershing’s Last Patriot.” Buckles, who enlisted at 16 and saw duty in England, France and Germany, took this cause seriously, wanting recognition not for himself but for all of those who served in that conflict.
I have written before that if we honor those who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam on the National Mall, then similar recognition is due those of the 20th century’s first major war.
After years of decay, at long last the existing monument to the World War I troops from the District of Columbia is being cleaned up. To create a national monument, I’d like to see it expanded, perhaps with figures of soldiers peering over a trench, bayonets fixed and gas masks at the ready, ready to charge over the top.
Unfortunately, Frank Buckles did not live long enough, not even nine decades after the war ended, to see honor properly paid to his comrades. Now that he has passed, let that honor be paid in memory of this patriot.
FULL STORY
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I support this! Please start some type of legislative movment toward making this happen-God bless
As a modern day veteran, this pains me deeply to hear of his passing. It is the passing of an era, these soldiers are what the WWII Vets Looked up to, and Korean Vets looked up to the WWII vets, and so forth and so forth. I was hoping to have the honor of one day meeting him, render a salute and shake his hand. He is the Grandfather of soldiery, and I as a relatively modern soldier have profound respect for him and his fellow doughboys. I can imagine him now “Over There” in heaven with his comrades, friends and family. Rest In Peace Sir!
We are indebted to the men and women who served in WWI. We must honor their memory and sacrifice.
RIP, Sir. Condolences to his family. May your dream of a national WWl memorial become a reality.
I had the good fortune to meet with Mr. Buckles twice at his home during the last several years and I can tell you he was as wise and engaging a person as you'd expect. Rest in peace, Frank Woodruff Buckles.
This U.S. Army Colonel salutes you Corporal Buckles! Say "Hello" to my comrades when you arrive. HOOHA!
Wow. Sadly the moment had to come.
My Grandfather Oscar Becker served in the 315th machine gun unit he was my mentor and a person for all to love and respect, I miss him everyday, God Bless you corporal Buckles please say hello to gramps and all the brave men and women who serve our Great Country. Thank You
I sincerely hope that funds are provided for the WWI memorial...with all the stupid spending in Washington, surely they can spend some money for a *good* cause such as this.
Rest well, my friend. Your war with life is finally over.
Rest in peace, doughboy, may your sacrifice and that of your comrades be always honored and enver forgotten!
There is a National World War I museum and it's unfortunate how many politicians and supporters don't realize (or refuse to acknowledge) that it's in Kansas City. Maybe because Missouri is a flyover state to the east coast and DC elite, that doesn't count but it's a fantastic museum, memorial and tribute to those brave men & women. Check it out http://www.theworldwar.org.
In Pace, Requiescat!
The National World War I Memorial in Kansas City is both spectacular and dignified. K.C. was chosen as the site because General Pershing was from that area.
Mr Buckles, Thank you for your service, May you rest in peace
Thank you sir for your great sacrifice. You are a hero in every sense of the word. God bless your soul, rest in peace.