On Sunday, February 27, 2011, the last surviving American veteran of World War I - U.S. Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles – died at the age of 110.Corporal Buckles was born on February 1, 1901, in the small farming community of Bethany, Missouri where he and his family later moved to Dewey County, Oklahoma.
Buckles gained entrance into the U.S. Army at the age of 16, enlisting on August 14, 1917, after lying to recruiters about his age.
In 1917, the Army sent Buckles to Europe on the Royal Mail Ship Carpathia, which had rescued survivors of the Titanic some five years earlier. While on the Carpathia, Buckles spoke with crewmembers who had taken part in the rescue.
Buckles served in England and France during the war driving ambulances and motorcycles for the Army's 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment. After the Armistice between the Allies and Germany was signed in 1918, Buckles escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. He was discharged in 1920.
As a mark of respect for the memory of Corporal Buckles - President Barack Obama on February 28, 2011 issued a proclamation ordering the flag of the United States of America flown at half-staff over all government buildings, embassies, and at the White House on the day of Buckles interment.
Additionally, on March 3, 2011, the United States Senate passed a resolution honoring the Corporal as "the last veteran to represent the extraordinary legacy of the World War I veterans".
U.S. Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles is scheduled to be interred on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia.
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