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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: CPL Frank Buckles ~ 04 August 2025
Serving the Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 08/03/2025 5:30:56 PM PDT by 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.



ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

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 Ba os 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 L gion 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!



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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1 posted on 08/03/2025 5:30:57 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Hi Everybody!
(((HUGS)))


2 posted on 08/03/2025 5:36:38 PM PDT by left that other site (You Shall Know The Truth, and The Truth Shall Make You Free.)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
dog-write

Music-Notes

~ Evening All! ~

dog thankyou 1

Hugs2 You 1 zps9409c58b

Hai_Kathy-vi_zps57be83d2
dog-welcome-1 ~

funny picdump 491 640 40

Cessna

~ Welcome To My World ~

My_World

dancingfrog

No Friday

I’m Down There Somewhere

Holiday-Traffic

3 posted on 08/03/2025 5:37:30 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; luvie; HiJinx; AZamericonnie; Jet Jaguar; beachn4fun; laurenmarlowe; MS.BEHAVIN; ..

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

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

Wow, he lived a VERY long life. I guess his attitude worked ...... "When you start to die... don't."


4 posted on 08/03/2025 6:02:56 PM PDT by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Howdy, Kathy.

A nicer day up there today. I hope you had a chance to sit on the deck to enjoy the sunshine.

Still cloudy here but no rain in this area. It was east and west of here all day though.


5 posted on 08/03/2025 6:07:46 PM PDT by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Thanks for honoring this incredible Hero tonight, Kathy!

We're in for a bit of a cooling before the REAL summer weather hits later on this week. Hope all is well with you!

6 posted on 08/03/2025 6:08:53 PM PDT by PROCON (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 300winmag; 357 SIG; ...

~ Hall of Heroes: CPL Frank Buckles ~

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

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and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

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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.



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7 posted on 08/03/2025 6:09:37 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: left that other site

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...you and Tippy getting in nice long walks these days?

You and Blue getting out and about?


8 posted on 08/03/2025 6:14:28 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: left that other site
ML!!

1st!!

9 posted on 08/03/2025 6:21:56 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: SkyDancer

Good evening, Janey...((HUGS))...hope you are enjoying nice summer weather.

Really sunny today, but the last few days have brought almost an inch of much needed rain.


10 posted on 08/03/2025 6:35:15 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: SkyDancer
Janey!!

2nd!!

11 posted on 08/03/2025 6:35:56 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Great post, Kathy. May God richly bless you. 🤗🤗


12 posted on 08/03/2025 6:53:56 PM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: PROCON

Howdy, PRO.

Enjoy that cool spell before the heat cranks back up!
We’re enjoying just that right now. The good thing is it won’t get quite as hot as we just dealt with when it warms back up late in the week.


13 posted on 08/03/2025 7:15:54 PM PDT by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: radu

Goodf evening, radu...he did have quite the good philosophy.

Hope you are getting some nice down time with all the mowing done.


14 posted on 08/03/2025 7:16:06 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska

Yes, he did and it seems it worked for him.

I did plan to mow along the driveway this weekend because it’s already pretty shaggy. But life got in the way. I’ve had plenty of downtime that I really didn’t want. Oh well.


15 posted on 08/03/2025 7:19:56 PM PDT by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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To: radu
radu!!

3rd!!

16 posted on 08/03/2025 8:22:24 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Kathy in Alaska; MS.BEHAVIN; y'all; radu; beachn4fun; Allegra; GodBlessUSA; E.G.C.; Jet Jaguar; ...

Saluting Frank Woodruff Buckles
February 1, 1901 - February 27, 2011
United States Army soldier,
the last living American veteran of WW I.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1917
Served with a detachment from Fort Riley
....driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in Europe.
During WW II, Buckles was taken prisoner by the Japanese as a civilian.
What a hero he was...in TWO major wars!

17 posted on 08/03/2025 8:24:17 PM PDT by luvie (🇺🇸 The bravery of our troops keeping us safe & free make me proud to be an American.🇺🇸)
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To: PROCON

Good eveing, Pro...glad you enjoyed today’s hero.

Heat is coming, huh? Stay cool!! Our temps keep going up to the low 70s (HOT), but then down to the low 60s...still warm, but it’s a roller coaster.


18 posted on 08/03/2025 8:32:28 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: Huskrrrr

Good evening, Huskrrrr, and thank you. Glad you enjoyed learning about today’s hero.


19 posted on 08/03/2025 8:38:22 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
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To: luvie

Howdy, luvie.

Did it get as hot as they said it would?

It didn’t break 80 here, which was a nice surprise.


20 posted on 08/03/2025 8:43:15 PM PDT by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
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