Posted on 05/09/2008 8:14:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Canada's last known surviving veteran of World War One is becoming a Canadian citizen, the government said on Friday.
John Babcock, 107, was born in Canada but became a U.S. citizen in 1946 and had to give up his status as a British subject - as Canadians were designated before Canada's own citizenship act came into force a year later.
Canadian officials recently visited Babcock at his home in Spokane, Washington, to give him an award, and he told them he was interested in being granted citizenship in his birth country.
"This means the last known soldier to serve Canada in the First World War will forever be a Canadian," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement.
Babcock was only 15 years old and lied about his age when he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He moved to the United States in the 1920s.
Canada's last known World War I veteran John Babcock hold his Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation lapel pins presented to him by Greg Thompson (unseen), Canada's Minister of Veterans Affairs, in Spokane, Washington, April 19, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff T. Green
I salute the man for his service.
Amazing. The last WW1 veteran in France passed away a few months ago. I wonder how many survivors are left worldwide? Probably not even a dozen.
The last German vet of the war recently passed away as well, as I recall.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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Ooops, and thanks Val for the ping. The local home for veterans had a couple WWI vets not many years ago, both over 100 years old, and both got decorated by France (which decided it was time to say a special thank you for those who defended France in WWI, what’s the rush, eh?). And both of them died not long after, one unable to walk for a few years before, the other spry and still slow-dancing the ladies. :’)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surviving_veterans_of_World_War_I
My great-uncle served from Canada in WWI. He was killed, and is buried in France. My uncle was born in Canada, but served in the U.S. Army overseas during WWII. He became a citizen, but I’m not sure at what point that happened.
One American Vet remains, he recently traveled to DC to visit President Bush. God bless them all.
Through research, I met and became friends with a gentleman whose grandfather had been a slave, and a member of the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Until I was put in contact with him, I had no idea that the Civil War soldier’s daughters were still alive. I spoke to the oldest daughter over the phone, and met the youngest daughter several times over the years. The oldest daughter has since passed, but the youngest still survives. She just turned 100 this year, and is living in a nursing home in New Jersey.
God bless him.
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