BY MAURICE SCARBOROUGH
America’s last remaining World War I veteran has passed away at age 110.
“Frank Buckles enlisted in the Army at the age of 16, and then served as an ambulance driver. He was captured by Japanese forces in the Philippines during World War II. Buckles was held as a prisoner of war for more than three years, before being freed by U.S. troops.”
KSBW
Buckles was the last of America’s Doughboys - and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki called him a - quote - “living link to an important era in our nation’s history.” But the New York Times explains Buckles almost missed his chance at making history.
“The Marines turned him down as underage and under the required weight. The Navy didn’t want him either, saying he had flat feet. But the Army took him in August 1917 when he lied about his age, and he volunteered to be an ambulance driver, hearing that was the quickest path to service in France.”
While Buckles’ military service ended after the war, his service to honor those who fought continued. During his life he actively advocated for a National World War I memorial in the nation’s capital.
“Buckles wanted the existing World War I memorial on the national mall in Washington to be restored and rededicated as a national memorial to all the veterans who died in that war.”
Fox News
Buckles’ wish for a national memorial in Washington has yet to come true, but his dream of being buried next to fellow service members and friends will become a reality.
“...with no wounds or medals for bravery, he was eligible under Arlington National Cemetery protocols only for inurnment in a vault for cremated remains. In March 2008, however, the Bush administration ordered a rare exception... Mr. Buckles wanted a grave site at Arlington and a traditional white marble headstone. And he will get his wish.”
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Transcript by Newsy
Source : http://www.newsy.com/ , February 28, 2011.
This post appear for honouring Mr. Daniel P, who send me a message via my e-mail address. Thank you.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
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