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Buckles, last WWI doughboy, dies at 110 in W.Va. - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110228/ap_on_re_us/us_obit_last_wwi_veteran - broken link)
I've been following the number of living veterans of WWI over the last couple of years and it's very depressing to watch it drop as fast as it has. That memory of WWI (personally the war I'm most interested in) is nearly gone.
I guess it's inevitable, the rapid drop in numbers, given that any vets of that war are around 110+ by now, but it is sad. My grandfather was in both world wars, and I can remember him like it was yesterday, so it just doesn't seem like it was as long ago as it truly was...
I was watching the local news regarding this gentleman. It was reported that in addition to his WW 1 service he also served in WW 2 and was in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Thanks for your service Mr. Buckles.
I think I will too! I remember going to parades in my youth and there was a very large contingent of WWII vets and a much smaller guard from WWI. Gradually the older vets just softly disappeared.
I made a new friend a few years ago when I noticed a man wearing his WWII ship's hat by simply walking over to him and saying hello. He's still here and I never miss the opportunity to talk to him whenever I can. It's amazing the amount of respect I have for this guy. I don't know his name but I see him and his wife almost every week at the grocery store and for a few moments we all have very pleasant conversations. Perhaps it's a link to the past for me that I don't want to let die. Surely it will, though. Bless these folks that went through hell on our behalf.
Rest in peace Mr. Buckles and thank you for your service.
My grandfather was a WWI vet. He was gassed overseas and passed away when he was only in his 50's. I have the memory of sitting next to him on a hard wooden bench at the old Wrigley Field in L.A. watching a ball game. I wish I had more.
He was a teacher most of his life. But he also worked in ordnance (bomb) disposal through WWII and into the 50's. He deactivated a lot of bombs simply by knowing how they worked. Or figuring them out. He worked without the safety mechanisms we know from The Hurt Locker. Just walked up to whatever it was and calmly defused it. Absolutely amazing.
He also buried a lot of ordnance on the beaches in Virginia. SOP for the 50's. When he buried all that stuff the area was the middle of nowhere and it seemed like a good idea at the time. They are now findng all those old pieces. Were he around I'm pretty sure he'd shake his head at all the fuss this causes.
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