FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: CPL Frank Buckles ~ 27 March 2023

Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

[Kathy in Alaska]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

CPL Frank Buckles
All info and photos from this website.

           

Frank Woodruff Buckles (February 1, 1901 - February 27, 2011) was a United States Army soldier, the last living American veteran of World War I. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917 and served with a detachment from Fort Riley, driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in Europe. During World War II, Buckles was taken prisoner by the Japanese as a civilian.

Buckles was born in Bethany, Missouri. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the beginning of America's involvement in World War I in April 1917. Only 16 years old at the time, Buckles was asked by his recruiter to show a birth certificate. Later Buckles said of that event, “I was just 16 and didn’t look a day older. I confess to you that I lied to more than one recruiter. I gave them my solemn word that I was 18, but I’d left my birth certificate back home in the family Bible. They’d take one look at me and laugh and tell me to go home before my mother noticed I was gone. Somehow I got the idea that telling an even bigger whopper was the way to go. So I told the next recruiter that I was 21 and darned if he didn’t sign me up on the spot! I enlisted in the Army on the 14th of August 1917." Before being accepted into the United States Army, he was turned down by the Marine Corps due to his slight weight.

In 1917, Buckles was sent to Europe on the RMS Carpathia, which had rescued Titanic survivors five years earlier. During the war Buckles served in England and France, driving ambulances and motorcycles for the Army's 1st Fort Riley Casualty Detachment. After the Armistice in 1918, Buckles escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. Following his discharge in 1919, he attended the dedication of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, in honor of those Americans who died in World War I. While there, he met General John "Black Jack" Pershing, commander of all U.S. forces in France during the war.

In the 1940s Buckles worked for a shipping company in Manila, Philippines. He was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and spent the next three and a half years in the Los Baños prison camp. He became malnourished, with a weight below 100 lb, and developed beriberi, yet led his fellow inmates in calisthenics. He was rescued on February 23, 1945.

In 1953, Buckles married and bought the 330-acre Gap View Farm in West Virginia. His wife died in 1999, and their daughter moved back to the farm to care for her father.

Buckles stated in an interview with The Washington Post on Veterans' Day 2007 that he believes the United States should go to war only "when it's an emergency."  When asked about the secret of his long life, Buckles replied: "Hope", adding, "When you start to die... don't." He also said the reason he has lived so long is that, "I never got in a hurry."

The U.S. Library of Congress included Buckles in its Veterans History Project and has audio, video and pictorial information on Buckles' experiences in both world wars, including a full 148-minute video interview.  Buckles' life was featured on the Memorial Day 2007 episode of NBC Nightly News.

On March 6, 2008, he met with President Bush at the White House.  The same day, he attended the opening of a Pentagon exhibit featuring photos of nine surviving World War I veterans created by historian and photographer David DeJonge. Of the group, only Buckles and Canadian veteran John Babcockwere left. Babcock was unable to attend. He passed away February 18, 2010.

Buckles is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was eligible for cremation and placement in a columbarium at Arlington, but expressed a desire for burial there, which he was not eligible for under current Arlington policy.  Friends and family members took up his cause, but made no headway until a relative, Ken Buckles, contacted Ross Perot, whom Frank had met at a history seminar in 2001. Within two weeks, Perot had successfully intervened with the White House, and on March 19, 2008, Buckles received special approval for underground burial at Arlington.

Buckles was the Honorary Chairman of the World War I Memorial Foundation, which seeks refurbishment of the District of Columbia War Memorial and its establishment as the National World War I Memorial on the National Mall. Buckles appeared before Congress on December 3, 2009, advocating on behalf of such legislation.  On February 1, 2010, on Buckles' 109th birthday, his official biographer announced that he will be completing a film on Buckles' life. The film is a cumulative work of three years of interviews and intimate moments gathered by DeJonge as he traveled the nation with Buckles

For his service during World War I, Buckles received (from the U.S. Government) the World War I Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal. In addition, French president Jacques Chirac awarded him France's Légion d'honneur.

On May 25, 2008, Buckles received the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Gold Medal of Merit at the Liberty Memorial. He sat for a portrait taken by David DeJonge that will hang in the National World War I Museum, as "the last surviving link".

Buckles received the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry's Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (KCCH) on September 24, 2008. The KCCH is the last honor a freemason receives prior to the 33°. The ceremony was hosted by Ronald Seale, 33°, Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. A keynote address was provided by James Peake, Secretary of Veteran Affairs.

---

Thank you to Ms. Behavin for the heads up about this wonderful hero!

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[PROCON]

Hi Kathy, thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Pro...heroes we never knew.

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: CPL Frank Buckles ~

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS

CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

To every service man or woman reading this thread.
Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and everyone of you.
To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running daily thread
specifically designed to provide entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

[The Mayor]

March 27

God Is Listening

Bible in a Year:

• Judges 1–3
• Luke 4:1–30

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Chuck, an actor and martial artist, honored his mother on her hundredth birthday by sharing how instrumental she’d been in his spiritual transformation. “Mom has been an example of perseverance and faith,” he wrote. She raised three boys on her own during the Great Depression; suffered the death of two spouses, a son, a stepson, and grandchildren; and endured many surgeries. “[She] has prayed for me all my life, through thick and thin.” He continued, “When nearly losing my soul to Hollywood, she was back home praying for my success and salvation.” He concluded, “I thank [my mom] for helping God to make me all I can and should be.”

The prayers of Chuck’s mother helped him to find salvation—and a godly wife. She prayed fervently for her son, and God heard her prayers. We don’t always get our prayers answered the way we’d like, so we cannot use prayer as a magic wand. However, James assures us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (5:16). Like this mom, we’re to continue to pray for the sick and those in trouble (vv. 13–15). When, like her, we commune with God through prayer, we find encouragement and peace and the assurance that the Spirit is at work.

Does someone in your life need salvation or healing or help? Lift your prayers to God in faith. He’s listening. .

Reflect & Pray

When have you seen God answer your fervent prayers? Who continues to be in your prayers?

Dear Father, help me to continually be in prayer and not to give up. Thank You for Your love that helps me persevere.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...hope spring is slowly making its way to you and Tippy.

It’s trying here, but Saturday morning brought an inch of snow to my deck that is still not melted.

[left that other site]

Except for the “Wintery Mix” last night, the days have benn beautiful.

My knees are inproving, and I’m up to a mile walk every morning.

Hopefully I’ll be back up to four, one day at a time.

Both Tippy and I have gotten a little tubby during this “Down Time”.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Hope you are rested and ready to take on the new week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...so happy to hear that the knees are improving...and the walks are coming along.

ODAAT on the way to your 4 mile mark. Good luck!!

[luvie]

Frank Woodruff Buckles
February 1, 1901 - February 27, 2011
United States Army soldier
& last living American veteran of World War I.
Enlisted 1917
Civilian Prisoner in WWII--Japan
What a stellar career for this hero!
I salute him!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

THANK YOU
for your service!

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Nice to meet a WWI hero.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch...glad you were able to meet him.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, luvie...he did have quite the career.

[luvie]

I didn’t think one person could cram so much living into one life! But he did it!

[luvie]

Hey there, radu!

Did you have quieter weather there today? I sure hope so. How was the party. Did all the pimiento cheese get eaten? Bet it did!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...did you make it safely through all the bad weather? Trees still standing? Pump houses ok? Internet up and running?

[Kathy in Alaska]