World War II

This weekend our local news carried a story about World War I and World War II vet Frank Buckles, 106, of Charles Town, West Virginia. Buckles saw a news report about the nation’s only traveling replica of the Liberty Bell. It’s being used at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. Buckles wanted to see the bell — so they took it to him.

It was touching to watch as the elderly gentleman was wheeled from his home to ring the bell parked in the driveway of his Revolutionary War-era house tucked away in the beautiful West Virginia countryside. In a weak, but clear voice Buckles said, “It’s a wonderful thing you’re doing.” Inside the reporter held up a tin cup and described it for the viewers — it was the cup Buckles used during three years as a prisoner of war of the Japanese in the Philippines during WWII.

The next morning I went in search of information on Buckles online and discovered he is one of an elite group of four surviving Great War veterans. In November 2006 twelve WWI vets were still living. By January 2007 five of those men passed away. As of April 2007, four remain — Buckles is one of them. (The article reports his age as 105 but the news story I heard said 106.) If I’m reading correctly the oldest survivor is 108 but many of these man lived past 110 and the lone woman in the group was 109 at her death.

Their stories are nothing short of remarkable, both in terms of service to their country and in their longevity. A similar phenomenon was witnessed in survivors of the Titanic sinking. I recall hearing one of them say that after surviving that even little else bothered her in life. I suspect if you make it through two world wars you’d feel much the same way.

WWII, WWI, oldest living vets, Frank Buckles