Harry Richard Landis 1899-2008
U.S. Veteran of the Great War
2nd-to-last survivor of 4.7 million in war who served America
Mitch Stacy-AP
Richard Henry Landis, one of the only two surviving WWI veterans has died February 4th at age 108.
He was fairly healthy right up to the end, and only took vitamins and eyedrops.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there is only one remaining US vet of WWI, 107 year-old Frank Buckles of Charles Town, WV. The lone surviving Canadian vet is John Babcock, 107, of Spokane, Washington.
Another US WWI veteran, J. Russell Coffey died in December at 109. The last-known German veteran, Erich Kaestner died New Year's Day at age 107.
Mr. Landis trained as a recruit while at college during the last 60 days of the war and never went overseas.
According to Mr. Landis, "We went to school in the afternoon and drilled in the morning.
"We got our uniforms a bit at a time. Got the whole uniform just before the war ended. Fortunately, we got our great coats first. It was very cold."
He said that he spent a lot of time cleaning up a makeshift sick ward and caring for recruits who caught the flu during the influenza pandemic of 1919.
He signed up to fight in WWII but was told he was too old at age 42.
After the war, he worked with S.S. Kresge Co, which later became K Mart.
Almost at an End to Another great Generation.
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