The other two last US survivors of World War I were still in basic training when the war ended and never went to Europe. When they died in 2007 and 2008, Frank Buckles became the last-standing Doughboy. As a celebrity, he was soft-spoken even though he got fan mail almost every day. For his last birthday, his 110th, he received enough cards to fill several bushel baskets.
Each night, relatives would read the letters to Mr. Buckles and that kept him going.
He had been battling colds and minor ailments all winter, but was not ill at the time of his death. The day before he died, the 26th, was warm and he spent three hours sitting outside in the sunshine.
His family kept him living at home despite mounting medical expenses that exhausted his life savings. Home health nurses and other medical costs rang up to $120,000 a year.
He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery because back in 2008, friends persuaded the federal government to make an exception to their rules for who can be interred there.
President Obama has ordered flags flown at half mast on the day he is buried, March 15th.
More to Come. --Cooter
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