The first great World War, WWI, saw the deaths of millions worldwide and destruction on a level never before seen.
With over 4.7 million serving in the United States army alone, WWI was the war to end all wars, though sadly, that was not to be.
The last World War 1 Veteran, Frank Buckles from the United States, died on February 27, 2011, at the ripe old age of 110.
Who Was Frank Buckles?
Frank Woodruff Buckles was born on February 1, 1901, and enlisted in the United States military in 1917 at the age of 16.
For his first few years, he was a motorcycle and ambulance driver on the front lines in Europe, helping aid starving children.
After the war ended, he returned to the States, attending business school in Oklahoma City and working at a shipping facility.
Shortly before the Second World War occurred, he was in Germany, where he had the unpleasant experience of meeting Adolf Hitler at a hotel.
When World War II happened, he helped resupply United States troops in Manila. Halfway through the war, in 1942, he was captured by Japanese soldiers.
He spent three years and two months in a detainment camp. There he battled starvation and caught beriberi before being freed by Allied forces.
Returning home after his captivity, he settled down and married Audrey Buckles, who died in 1999. His daughter returned home to take care of him until his last days.
Are There Any Surviving World War II Veterans?
As of 2022, there are currently about 167,000 surviving World War II veterans, with 234 dying daily from old age, sickness, or other causes.
By 2032, almost no veterans will be left who fought in World War II. If you know a veteran, talk to them today. You never know when you may no longer have the chance.