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Happy birthday to our last WWI vet

Posted: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 3:12 PM by Daily Nightly Editor

by Andy Gross, NBC News Producer, Washington

With the death of Harry Landis in Sun City, Florida this week, the United States now has one surviving veteran of World War One.

070523_frankcloseup_hmed_1230pHis name is Frank Buckles and last May correspondent Bob Faw and I had the privilege of spending the day with Frank Buckles at his farm in West Virginia for a story that aired on Memorial Day for Nightly News. 

Here is a link to my original blog that I wrote almost a year ago, when there were still three veterans of the war left.

Now it's just Frank, out on his farm surrounded by his memories and his family. On Friday, Feb. 1st, he turned 107.

Happy Birthday, Frank Buckles.

Photo caption: Frank Buckles on his porch in West Virginia. The red ribbon he's wearing is the Legion of Honor, France's highest military award, given to him for his service in France during WWI. Photo copyright David DeJonge, used with permissionDeJonge Studio.

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Happy Birthday, Frank!

Jamie, Salt Lake, Utah (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 4:08 PM)

Happy Birthday, thank you for your service to our country, and God bless you.

Alvaro Garza (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 5:47 PM)

Hello, how are you? congratuations sir on your milestone, 107 years.
Thank you so very much for defending the citizens of this great country.
Happy belated birthday.

chris, valencia, CA (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:06 PM)

Frank, you don't look a day over 80.  Happy Birthday to you and may you enjoy the rest of your days.  

Thank you for serving our great country so long ago.

Stephanie Umbro, Maine (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:23 PM)

Happy Birthday Frank,

God Bless you, and thank you for service to this Great Country.

Mike & Emily Roloff, Redlands, CA (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 7:50 PM)

Happy Birthday Mr. Buckles!   I hope you enjoy your special day!  

Anna (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 9:25 PM)

Happy Birthday Mr. Buckles Sir. Thank you so much for serving our great country and may many more happy years come to you filled with love and happiness.
God Bless you richly.
Lynda in Lompoc California

Lynda (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 9:29 PM)

Happy Birthday!!

Gabriel, Monterey, California (Sent Wednesday, February 06, 2008 11:45 PM)

May God continue to bless you!  Happy Birthday!
Thank you for serving our great country!

Karen, Sparta, Tennessee (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:54 AM)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Buckles, Thank you for the great service to our country and may God bless you in many ways.

Mary, Grand Rapids, Michigan (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 9:50 AM)

Dear Mr. Buckles,
God bless and keep soldering on!  We all owe you our respects and thanks. And Happy Birthday!
Sincerely,
Mike

Michael Myers, White Heath, IL (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:40 AM)

Happy birthday Mr. Buckles from one veteran to another.

John Rambo Harrisburg,PA (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 4:54 PM)

Happy Birthday Mr.Buckles!! God Bless you and thank you for your great service to our country! Happy Birthday!

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 5:53 PM)

Happy Birthday Frank, and thank you for serving your country. We are proud of you!

David
A VietNam Vet

David O, Prospect, Tennessee (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 7:43 PM)

I am sure the angels rejoiced the day you were born.  May God bless you as you live your life on this Earth!  Thank you for your years of service to protect this GREAT land.  May you enjoy many more Happy Birthdays!

Neena, Mesa, AZ (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:41 PM)

Patriotic Americans, please help. Now that my great-uncle Frank is the last American WWI vet. The United States is the only country that will not have a State funeral for the last WWI vet. Even Canada is planning one for their last. Also Frank cannot be buried in Arlington National Cementery because he does not qualify.

Ken Buckles.Canby,Oregon (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:50 PM)

Patriotic Americans, please help. Now that my great-uncle Frank is the last American WWI vet. The United States is the only country that will not have a State funeral for the last WWI vet. Even Canada is planning one for their last. Also Frank cannot be buried in Arlington National Cementery because he does not qualify.

Ken Buckles.Canby,Oregon (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:51 PM)

Ken Buckles.Canby,Oregon (Sent Thursday, February 07, 2008 11:57 PM)

Why doesn't he qualify for burial in Arlington National Cemetery?

Fr. Kurt Messick, Bloomington, Indiana (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 7:08 PM)

Thank you for what you did and endured.  I am free because of you and your comrades and I don't forget it.  Happy Birthday

David Mardis, Greenfield, Indiana (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 7:09 PM)

Frank:  Happy birthday!  We wish you a very Happy Birthday!  Thank you for serving our great country.  

Scott & Anne - Waterloo, Iowa (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 7:12 PM)

Happy Birthday Frank!  Words can not express our gratitude for your WWI service to our country.  Thank you so much!  Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Scott & Anne (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 7:19 PM)

Happy Birthday Frank.  We apprecieate your effort and sacrafice.  I have a birthday on the 9th of this month & will be 64 and I'm still trying to make my contribution.  Your history is tremendous.

Marshall Howard, Louisville, Kenucky (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 7:30 PM)

THanks Frank for all you did and living with the horros of war all these years. That's a TRUE sacrifice and you are appreciated.

Burke Petersen Fort Calhoun, NE (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 8:07 PM)

Happy Birthday Frank! My grandpa and his Twin brother served in World WarII.They both were POW's ! My grandpa made it out almost 4yrs his brother not so lucky.I am so glad my  grandpa made it home after everything he went through:)I can't imagine what you must of went through but I am so glad you made home too! God bless you and Thank You for your service to our country!!!

Jennifer Ferrin ,Phoenix,Az (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 8:30 PM)

REPORT : Inappropriate comment @ /archive/2008/02/06/644042.aspx

RE :  state funeral for last WW I veteran - post from " Ken Buckles.Canby Oregon "

" Even Canada is planning one for their last ."

Even Canada ?  Insulting and abusive comments are , I think , a violation of your terms of use .

Even Canada ?  Where WW I started in 1914 , and WW II in 1939 ?

( i.e. years before our American cousins , " Patriotic Americans " all , finally got involved .)

Canada is not planning a state funeral for our last WW I vet .

Try Google .  

It's an interesting story . Parliament proposed a state funeral - unanimously . The three vets left said no thank you . The national veterans' organisation - the Canadian Legion - said it's insulting .

" Even Canada " ? We are at war , again , together , in Afganistan .

Why does NBC allow such ignorant innuendo ?

A reply will be appreciated - but is not expected .  

Toronto Ontario Canada (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 8:53 PM)

Happy Birthday Frank, and thank you for serving our country, good luck and god bless.

Josh Farrell, Clinton, Iowa (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 9:24 PM)

Aloha Frank. Happy Birthday. Thank you. This world is a better place because of your being here. You have made a difference for all of us.

Lina, Hilo, Hawaii (Sent Friday, February 08, 2008 11:04 PM)

Happy Birthday Mr. Buckles!  God bless you and I thank you for your great service to our country.  Your photo on this blog is so lovely.

Julie H., Richardson, Texas (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 1:56 AM)

Happy Birthday Mr.Buckles! Thank you for your service to our country. May you have many more wonderful birthdays ahead.

Sandra Sample Smith,Fort Drum,New York (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 8:51 AM)

Happy Birthday Frank, May god bless you and you keep on enjoying the beautiful hills of Virginia.You hve helped to make life more beautiful.

reva gren paris tenn. (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 9:07 AM)

Congratulations Frank on your milestone. As one veteran to another, Thank You for your service.

John Williams, Janesville Wi (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 10:16 AM)

Mr. Buckles is an American Veteran. Every thanks should be extended. It is easy for me to see who qualifies. Thanks to ALL veterans! They made the sacrafice for all to live in peace and freedom. Bless them always. Wake up and honor the veterans and never forget they where the ones that stood up for what this Country is supposed to stand for. Thankyou Frank!

Don Panton (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 10:22 AM)

A Very Happy Birthday, Frank, and thank you for your service.

Dorothy Rojek, Charleston, SC (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 10:26 AM)

In response to the editors message about forwarding this to Mr Buckles, I would really like for Mr Buckles to get this.....  I think he served with my Grandfather.  My Grandfather joined in 1917 and served over in France with the ambulance corps.  I would love to find out more.  I have been digging into our genealogy and would like to add to the information I have.  My Grandfather's name is Foy Lavone Hiatt.  Thank you Bonnie

Bonnie Alterson, Troy, MO (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 11:57 AM)

happy birthday Mr Buckles, my father was in the first world war , he was from England, sadly he passed away in his 80s

marjory burgess (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 2:59 PM)

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU MR. BUCKLES AND HAVE A BLESSED BIRTHDAY.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT SERVICE FOR OUR COUNTRY.. YOU ARE VERY MUCH ADMIRED.

Dorothy, Chattanooga , Tn. (Sent Saturday, February 09, 2008 11:13 PM)

what a milestone to have reached your 107th birthday
congratulations! SIR, as a son of the american revolution,every generation having served,to protect and defend, this great nation, in every conflict since.
profound gratitude! best wishes! HAPPY HAPPY birthday in every way may God comfort your soul,guide your heart and bless you

BRIAN JOHNSON, MAPLETON, MINNESOTA (Sent Monday, February 11, 2008 3:04 AM)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Buckles! To live to be 107 is historical in its own right. The history you have lived through beyond WWI is mind-boggling. Prohibition, Depression, FDR, WWII, my goodness you lived through the whole 20th Century. God has blessed you abundantly, not only for surviving WWI, but for facing all of the challenges of the last 107 years. May you live another 107 years in good health, peace and happiness. God bless you,FRANK!!!!

Denise Crane, Thornton, PA (Sent Monday, February 11, 2008 12:57 PM)

IF MR. BUCKLES CAN'T BE INTERED IN ARLINGTON NATIONAL
CEMETRY THEN NO ONE SHOULD.

CAROL BOARDMAN, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (Sent Monday, February 11, 2008 2:30 PM)

Happy Birthday, thank you for your services to our country, God bless your heart.

D. Sansom, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, February 13, 2008 4:13 PM)

Mr. Buckles,

My Grandfather served in the WWI Navy.  I have his military picture to look at now -- but you are a living picture -- GOD BLESS YOU and Thankyou!

Laura-Ann Hansen Grand Junction, Colorado (Sent Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:56 PM)

To Frank,
Hope your birthday was a joyous occasion. Best wishes from your west coast relatives.  My mother is your 4th cousin.


Jamaes McDowell, Sun City, CA (Sent Friday, February 22, 2008 11:20 PM)

Hello Sir,

 My name is Bob.  I am an Iraq War Vet. My Grandfather was one of our battel buddies in WWI and my father fought in WWII.
 Imagine, if soldiers like you would not have defended our country, we could to this day be speaking another language and not at our own choice.  

 While in Iraq, I trained the Iraqi Army (ICDC) security forces. We had computers and often had water and food.  I am sure WWI was a little different.

 My email is
armyrangerarmyranger@yahoo.com or  you can see me on myspace  at
www.myspace.com/armyrangerarmyranger

I am dedicated to you and all your battle buddies.  My five year old son will know you as his heroe.

Bob from Missouri      

Robert Gipson (Sent Sunday, February 24, 2008 1:46 PM)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANK, IWAS WITH THE 11 AIRBORNE DIVISION WHEN THEY LIBERATED LOS BANOS PRISON CAMP

EARL A. JEFFERS, PORTSMOUTH, OH (Sent Monday, February 25, 2008 9:27 AM)

OMG! This guy's 107!? Congrats! Go U.S.A.

Rebecca MIAMI (Sent Thursday, March 06, 2008 6:58 PM)

Happy Birthday.  Was Mr. Buckles also in the Merchant Marines during WWII?  If so, he might be eligible for a POW medal, and that might get him eligibility in ANC.  

Mike M from Virginia (Sent Friday, March 07, 2008 9:03 AM)

Rip Mr Frank Buckles,thanks from this D.A.V.

Ray Dionne Mobile ,Al (Sent Tuesday, June 10, 2008 9:14 PM)

Mr. Buckles, My grandfather Leslie Hughes served in France, Luxemburg, and Germany in WWI. He lived to be 105 yrs young! My grandfather passed away in 1999. He was a wonderful man. Thank you for your service to this country.

Pat Brogan, Piqua, OH (Sent Wednesday, July 23, 2008 11:16 AM)

my mother,  Virginia Buckles Thomas is your first cousin. We have been thinking of you and would love to hear from
you & family.

Alice Thomas Senior (Sent Sunday, August 10, 2008 7:18 PM)



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