by Tommy Batboy One of my favorite scenes in all of cinematic history is when the older version of James Ryan is in front of Cpt. Miller’s grave at the end of Saving Private Ryan. Tearfully he tells the stone that he tired to live each day of his life the best that he could, that he’d tried to live the gift of freedom Miller and his men had given him. If you’re lucky in life you will come across a man like that. A man who through out the course of his life takes little for granted, demonstrates true strength of character in a largely dishonorable world. The last surviving American soldier of WWI, Frank Buckles, is the embodiment of such a man. Mr. Buckles enlisted into the Army at age 15. At a time when typewriters were rare he joined up by telling his recruiter that the county he was born in didn’t start keeping birth records until 1910. At the age most of us got our license, 16, he deployed overseas where he served as a driver in both England and France. Joking in an interview he told the reporter that he’d been driving since he was 12 on the farm so he wasn’t worried about being found out. After the armistice was signed he guarded German POW’s and assisted in their repatriation back to Germany. Showing remarkable maturity of someone so young he started learning German while working with the men he was escorting. The experience led him to a love of languages and world culture. Mr. Buckles speaks, to one level or another, German, French, Spanish, and Italian. Barely 18 when he arrived home a Cpl. in 1920 he was still intensely curious about the world. Instead of simply wondering what Brazil or the fabled ports of the Orient were like, he found a job that allowed him to see these places. Working the high seas lead him to the Philippines when the United States entered WWII. There, Frank Buckles was captured by the Japanese and forced into a POW camp. For three years and two months he fought to survive. Fed just enough to subsist, Frank Buckles lost 50lbs before he was finally released. Today he still has that tin cup he was forced to eat out of, a daily reminder of what it took to survive. In his home the cup sits next to another reminder of his commitment to the country he loves- his dog tags. As a teenager he selflessly answered our nation’s call to arms. Even as a businessman he didn’t forsake his country and kept the faith to the best of his abilities as a prisoner of war. For 107 years he’s demonstrated that words like loyalty, duty, and honor can be lived. His hard work and dedication are the embodiment of the American dream. The United States deployed 4.7 million troops for WWI. Of those men 53,513 died on the field of battle and another 63,195 died from accidents and disease. Now, 90 years after the armistice was signed, there is only one. Mr. Frank Buckles. To see Frank Buckles’ interview with the Library of Congress’ Veteran History Project go to: Click Here to see the interview! Copyright of Tommy Click the icon below to meet more Heroes! |
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