Monday, February 16, 2009

Frank Buckles, Last Surviving US World War I Veteran's 108th Birthday

This past February 1st marked the 108th birthday of Frank Buckles, the last remaining US veteran of World War I. He celebrated it at home in West Virginia.

When he was born in 1901, the US flag only had 45 stars.

He always expected to live to an old age as his father was 95 and sister 104 when they died and several maternal relatives reached 100.

The national World War I survivors group of which he is president and only member, used to put out a monthly publication where they kept up with the survivors' numbers until it stopped publication a few years ago. Said Muriel Sue Kerr, who continues the organization's work, "Being the last is sort of a negative thing because it means all your buddies have gone before you."

Until his seventies, Mr. Buckles used to smoke a pound of pipe tobacco and box of cigars.

More on Mr. Buckles Tomorrow. --Cooter

No comments: