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RedditFrank Woodruff Buckles was visiting the Kansas State Fair in Wichita one day in the summer of 1917 when, seeing a Marine Corps recruiting booth, he decided to enlist; the nation had just entered World War I. Buckles was only 16, but he told the recruiting sergeant he was 18. The recruiter, perhaps suspecting the boy's real age, offered a fib of his own: he told Buckles he had to be at least 21 to become a United States Marine. Undaunted, Buckles passed another booth and tried his luck with a Navy recruiter. He, too, turned Buckles down, saying he had flat feet, which he didn't.
But Buckles wouldn't give up. The Great War, which had started in 1914, was "an important event," he explains. "The world was interested in it. I was interested." So he traveled south to try his luck with recruiters in Oklahoma City. Again, the Marines turned him down. So did the Navy. But an Army sergeant passed him on to a captain, who asked him for a birth certificate. "I explained that when I was born in Missouri, birth certificates were not a public record," Buckles recalls. "It would be in the family Bible. And I said, 'You wouldn't want me to bring the family Bible down here, would you?' He said, 'Go on, we'll take you.'" And so it was that in August of 1917, Frank Buckles joined 4.7 million Americans recruited or conscripted for the new American Expeditionary Forces. They are all gone now—all except Buckles, who turned 107 this past February. He is the last living American veteran of the Great War.
After basic training, Buckles joined the First Fort Riley Casual Detachment and shipped out for England in December 1917. To Buckles' dismay, his unit was held in reserve there, while others, under the command of Gen. John J. Pershing, were in France fighting the Germans.
Buckles spent most of his time in England on a motorcycle with a sidecar, shuttling officers, delivering dispatches, driving the occasional ambulance and trying to get to the action. "I let any person who had any influence at all know that I wanted to go to France," he says.
Finally, after six months in England, Buckles managed to get himself sent to France, where he was assigned to escort an American lieutenant—a dentist—to Bordeaux. He was in the right country, but still miles from the fighting. As the war wound down, he continued to chafe behind the lines.
He was still there when the shooting stopped on November 11, 1918, having claimed 8.5 million lives. "I wasn't disappointed that the war ended," he recalls. "[But] I would have liked to accomplish what I had started out for."
Following the armistice, Buckles' unit was ordered to escort 650 prisoners of war back to Germany. He remembers them as mostly friendly and cultured. Some were professional musicians, a few conductors; they staged concerts. "Where they got the instruments, I don't know," he recalls. "But we would take boards and put them on boxes to make benches and listen to the concert." One late night he found himself about to exchange blows with a young prisoner over some dispute long since forgotten. "A big German on each side just took us by the back of the arms and read the law to us," he recalls. That was as close as Buckles got to fighting any Germans. He was sent home in January 1920 and mustered out of service.
Those who fought in World War II are now celebrated as "The Greatest Generation," but there were no such honors for the veterans of Frank Buckles' war. Many came home to find their jobs gone or their farms in a terrible state.
Additional Sources
"Frank Buckles, 107, old-school survivor" by Emily Brown, Stars and Stripes Pacific edition, May 18, 2008
I had the honor to meet Mr. Buckles at his home in July, he is a great American. One of the highlights of my entire life.
Posted by Mark L. Cooper on September 25,2008 | 09:48PM
i guess so a lot of people in my generation (im 25) already forgot this great war but if ever im given a chance i would like to meet Mr. Buckles so someday i could tell my kids that i met the last soldier of that great war
Posted by mark andrew on September 26,2008 | 10:26AM
It would be an honor to tell Mr Buckles "Thank you!" I cloud imagine what a privelage it would be to tell him. I always tell our Veterans "Thank you!" I feel ALL Americans should do the same! Without the likes of Mr Buckles, we would not have the very freedoms that we have today! If you can read this message; thank a Teacher. If you can read it in English; thank a Soldier!
Posted by Martin Romero Jr on September 26,2008 | 10:53AM
I just can't get enough of this story. Talk about a great movie, or novel. Look at this man's face, he speaks to you. What great pride he has in such an accomplishment. Every American should read this, and the next president needs to put his number on speed dial to ask him for advice.
Posted by Gordon Cornell on September 26,2008 | 11:30AM
Frank Buckles is not the last of his kind, but a mere start to a group of Americans to which whom so prodly sereved. Thank you Coporal Buckles for showing the way. Cpl. Joe A. U.S.A. 87-91
Posted by Joe Adkins on September 26,2008 | 11:30AM
I've never met him but I thank him for his egerness to fight for his country at 16. Being 16 myself and wanting to join the Air Force I know how it is.
Posted by Andrew S. Jansen on September 26,2008 | 11:52AM
As a proud son of a WW2 Vet, former member of the U.S. Army, currently a SGT in the Virginia Defense Force and a 2LT in the Civil Air Patrol I would like to say thank you, Mr. Buckles, for your outstanding service to our great country during "The Great War". Here's hoping you are in good health and may God bless you with many more good years to come.
Posted by Mr. Michael Garrett, E-5, VDF / O-1, CAP on September 26,2008 | 12:06PM
God bless the guy. I've never met him, but I want to say to him, thank you for your service for your country. I myself am an Army veteran, recently retired. I wish him some more prosperous years.
Posted by Raymond Almario, SGT, USA Retired on September 26,2008 | 12:49PM
What a delightful guy. As a life member of the American Legion and VFW Auxiliary, I wish we had more such outstanding Americans from that great war. I really enjoyed the story and passed it along to my VFW and American Legion friends.
Posted by Susan C. Reneau on September 26,2008 | 12:51PM
Mr Buckles You did a great deal of good while serving in the (great war)and i am proud of you. jACK
Posted by Jack E Gillam on September 26,2008 | 12:53PM
May God bless his soul!!!
Posted by Joe on September 26,2008 | 01:10PM
I am at a loss for words to describe how I felt reading about Cpl Frank Buckles. What he & his WWI comrades in arms accomplished, under the worst of conditions and still fighting with the most rudimentary weapons, face-to-face, no-holds-barred, makes this peacetime USAF vet salute Cpl Buckles and all of his generation. Yes, we call the WWII vets "the Greatest Generation", but these men of WWI were mostly the fathers of those great men! I work with WWII vets and am watching them pass at an alarming rate...a national resource disappearing right before us. Cpl Buckles, I salute you in honor of all WWI vets today, and may God bless each and every US soldier & sailor. We love, honor & respect you, Cpl Buckles. Jim Belcher Jr., Sgt USAF 76-80, son of USS Indianapolis survivor James Belcher, USN CPO 1944-1969 (WWII/Korea/Vietnam)
Posted by Jim Belcher Jr on September 26,2008 | 01:10PM
Godspeed Mr. Woodruff, and thank you so very much.
Posted by charles greenleaf on September 26,2008 | 01:19PM
This is an amazing story of an amazing man. Just to think of all the history he has witnessed and been involved in. This was the first true "modern war", and the events and policies shaped by WWI still have an influence on today and why things are the way they are. All too soon the veterans of WWII will be all but gone, and so much can be learned from their lives and history as well!
Posted by James Enns on September 26,2008 | 01:29PM
I can greatly appreciate Mr. Buckles endever as I am retired Navy and can relate to his story a sI too tried to enlist when I was sixteen,,, forged my birth cirtificate to the army and they caught me and sent me home before i got to boot camp,,then I was to enelist in the Marines soon after with my buddies but they backed out,,, by this time My mother said she would sign for me if I waited just six months for my seventeen birth day,,,so I enlisted on my birthday into the Navy and went to Korea on a aircraft carrier instead of one of those poor GI'S and Marines freezing in the fox holes,,,I was freezing on the flight deck but at least I could get warm and a hot meal and no body was shooting at me,,, My hat has always been off to the Grunts in the fox hole in all the wars,,,
Posted by john sexton on September 26,2008 | 01:37PM
Mr Frank Buckles, Thank You for your service in the Great War !!! In my eye, the Great War has never been forgotten, during BBQ's, I always ask my grandmother and father to tell me stories of their brothers and uncles in the Great War. The Great War lives on in our hearts. Thank You
Posted by Alberto Lopez on September 26,2008 | 02:02PM
I have been to several of the battlefields of WW1, and after seeing them I have the greatest respect for the soldiers who fought in the Great War. Mr Woodruff, even if you never saw combat, you played a vital role in winning the war. Myself and our country thanks you. PS , I'll be in WV this winter and I hope to be able to see you and bring you an Apple Pie!
Posted by jeff doba on September 26,2008 | 02:32PM
A gentle man and a gentleman. I was privileged to shake his hand when he was the Honored Guest and Parade Marshal for Armed Forces Day earlier this year in South Charleston, WV. God Bless Him.
Posted by Terry Shorr on September 29,2008 | 08:52PM
As a proud descendant in the Buckles family, it gave me great pride to read this story about Frank Buckles. My family has been e-mailing this article to cousins, aunts, and uncles of the Buckles family. I would like Frank to know that many of his family have continued to serve this great nation. I am currently serving as a Platoon Leader in Iraq, my cousin is serving as a nuclear submarine officer, my brother is a rescue swimmer in the coast guard, my uncle and his son both served as officers in the Army, my grandfather served and retired as a Lt. Col in the Army, and his son served as Company Commander in Vietnam. There have many others I may have failed to mention. I hope I have the pleasure of meeting Frank in the near future..and just want him to know that he inspired us all with his story of eagerness and selfless service to serve his country. God Bless this "Great Nation".
Posted by Michael Sargent on September 30,2008 | 04:10AM
My dad served aboard two battleships during WWI. I was a young teenager during WWII. I remember so vividly the hardships that we experienced by rationing, etc., and he victory gardens. We did this with a heart of patriotism. I wish we had more patriotism and respect for our troops. God bless Cpl. Buckles and all the other servicemen and women who have served our country so well. So many gave their lives that we might live free. Thanks to them all.
Posted by Miriam Donaldson on September 30,2008 | 11:24AM
I thank God for men like Frank Buckles who did their duty defending the free world during W.W.1. In Australia we would say "good on you mate".) Any one of my rather senior age would remember with grateful thanks how General McArthur and the U.S. servicemen saved Australia from certain invasion, particularly in the battle of the Coral Sea. May the alliance between the U.S. and Australia never be broken. God Bless the U.S. and Australia.
Posted by Brenz Kriewaldt on October 1,2008 | 08:16PM
I feel a deep sense of pride when I read about Frank Buckles and other men like him. These are the real Americans. Drew Foster
Regarding the Great War, the below information may interest you. The French are placing a memorial to the American Army "Lost Battalion" which was cut off and surrounded by Germans during WWI ... and which held out heroically against numerous attacks. There is a movie about them & Robert J.Laplander has written a book and heads an association which is placing a story board to commemorate them in early October. There is also a nearby commemoration service for Sgt. Alvin C. York of Tennessee, the most decorated private soldier of WWI.
If memory serves, Sgt.York shot 26 and captured 132 German soldiers basically single handedly. There is an old movie "Sgt York."
__________________________________________________________
The Lost Battalion Association dedication ceremonies are in Frace on October 4th and 7th of 2008.
On the 5th there will be Sgt. York commemorations and tours of his site.
On the 7th, the French are dedicating their new monument to the Lost Battalion as well as our storyboard in a separate ceremony, which will be covered by Armed Forces Network. General Terpeluk will be the guest speaker at this event.
Posted by Drew Foster on October 2,2008 | 08:48PM
A new piece of concert band music has been written, entitled "Doughboy Salute" -- the new piece is dedicated to Mr. Buckles, and contains arrangements of several popular tunes of the day, and a narration telling some of the history of the Great War. The music was created for the occasion of this November 11th being the 90th anniversary of Armistice Day (later Veteran's Day), which ended the war on November 11th, 1918. As composer of the music, I have arranged for the new piece to be performed in Mr. Buckles' honor by the Williamsport Community Band on Sunday, December 21st, 2008. Williamsport, Maryland is near to Charles Town, West Virginia, and Mr. Buckles and I will both be attending the concert. God bless him and all the soldiers past & present who continue to inspire us all!
Posted by Kenny Bierschenk on October 6,2008 | 09:51PM
I would like to send my thanks to Mr. Buckles for his service to our country in World War I. His service to our country is so appreciated. My grandfather served as well and was poised in France ready to go to the front when the Armistice was announced. We have his Army helmet still as a proud memento along with a few postcards and a journal. His grandfather served in the Civil War in the 13th Michigan Infantry Company C and participated in dozens of key battles. My father served in the Marines in the Pacific theater in World War II.
Posted by Shirley Worthen on October 16,2008 | 01:39PM
Thank You MR.WOODRUFF Tonight i will tuck my six year old son in bed and he will sleep in peace.Myself i have no memory of war.For that i thank you,because without men like you we would never know this peace and freedom.GOD BLESS YOU
Posted by Tricia Yount on October 16,2008 | 04:56PM
Mr Buckles,your generation set the standards that all of us who served and serve in the Military have to live up to. I salute you SIR,and thank you and all of your comrades. STSCS(SS) Sid Busch USN(RET)
Posted by Sid Busch on October 17,2008 | 01:10PM
Mr. Buckles, I thank you for your service and your caring.' I had an uncle who also faught in WWI. God Bless you! And thank you.
Posted by Jackie Dubiel on October 19,2008 | 02:44PM
This is a great article! I've always been interested in the subject of the two World Wars. And it's pretty cool that Mr. Buckles is the last remaining veteran. He sounds like a very unique and courageous person, and I'm sure anyone who has the chance to meet him will learn a lot from him. By the way, what is a dough-boy? It didn't say in the article.
Posted by Me on October 20,2008 | 09:55AM
Thank you for this country your generation helped build and defend.
Posted by daniel young on October 24,2008 | 03:38PM
As an educator in Michigan, I have been honored to know many veterans such as Mr. Woodruff. When we say the pledge each morning, I remind the students of such men and women who gave everything so they could experience their freedoms. God Bless them ALL!
Posted by R. Wood on October 24,2008 | 05:40PM
HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO FRANK Woodruff BUCKLES, our proud veteran-hero of World War I! It was a privlege to meet and visit with Frank Buckles on July 19, 2008, in his lovely farm house in Charles Town, West Virginia. He gave me photos of himself, one of him taken in 1920 on his way to a reception for Gen. John J. Pershing, at the Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City. My daughter Cathy Darby (lives in VA)and my grandsons Jack Darby and Marcello McCartney were also pleased meet Frank Buckles at his farm on 19 July, and hear about his experiences during W W I and W W II. A photo of Frank W. Buckles and me, taken by my daughter on that day, appeared in our local "Venice Gondolier Sun", Florida newspaper, August, 2008. Dear World War I Veteran Frank Buckles, We salute and thank you for your dedicated service to our great country! A grateful Nation does remember! Jean Maxwell Catsakis, member of Sara De Soto Chapter,Daughters of the American Revolution,Nokomis, FL.
Posted by Jean Maxwell Catsakis, Nokomis, FL on November 10,2008 | 11:06AM
Great story. Mr Buckles is certainly a hero and deserves our praise and thanks. I just saw a story about a WWI Vet in England named Henry Allingham who is 112! We need to get these crazy kids together. They have much to discuss.
Posted by Melinda Bailey on November 12,2008 | 11:27AM
A possible correction in the story, the Kansas State fair was held in Hutchinson Kansas, not Wichita. This small point in does not in anyway take away the gratitude owed to Mr.Buckels. My family recently visited the WW I musuem in Kansas City found information about my Grandfather who also served. What hardships those doughboys had, again, many thanks.
Posted by Scott Potucek on November 19,2008 | 01:21PM
Let's face it, war isn't a good thing in any way, but I'm still extremely grateful and thankful for the bravery and determination of people like Mr. Buckles!
Posted by Tori on December 28,2008 | 05:53PM