AMVETS National Commander John P. “JP” Brown III presents Frank Buckles, the last American WWI veteran, with a new American flag and a plaque honoring his service during a special ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Building. Photo by Ryan Gallucci
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CONGRESS HONORS FRANK BUCKLES, LAST ‘DOUGHBOY’ OF WWI
WASHINGTON, June 18, 2008 - Congress honored West Virginia’s Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I in the LBJ Room of the U.S. Capitol Building.
Notable leaders such as Sens. Robert Byrd, Jay Rockefeller, John Warner, Harry Reid, retired Sen. Bob Dole and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito were on hand to honor the 107-year-old combat veteran, along with AMVETS National Commander John P. “JP” Brown III, VFW Commander-in-Chief George Lisicki, and representatives from the American Legion and American Gold Star Mothers. |
Following the ceremony and a champagne toast in Buckles’ honor, AMVETS presented Buckles with a plaque honoring his service and a new American flag to fly over his farm in West Virginia. Buckles also received a commemorative oil painting, depicting him at the time he enlisted and the time he was honored by the French Foreign Legion earlier this year.
Buckles enlisted in the Army in 1917 at 16 years-old. Eager to see action at the onset of WWI, he volunteered as an ambulance driver. His service would take him across France and England. Following the Armistice that effectively ended the war, Buckles guarded and transported German POWs on their return to Germany. A corporal by age 18, Buckles was honorably discharged in 1920.
While working as a civilian in the Philippines, Buckles became embroiled in WWII when he was taken prisoner by the Japanese at the fall of Manila. He was interned for more than three years in Japanese prison camps, where he led his fellow prisoners in morning calisthenics.
Upon his release, Buckles married and raised a family on the same West Virginia farm where he lives to this day.
West Virginia legislators are also pressuring Congress to allow Buckles to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as a tribute to his link to the WWI generation, an honor reserved for Presidents, members of Congress, and distinguished military leaders. Earlier this year, Buckles received special permission to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Tennessee AMVETS Riders Chapter 7 and representatives from Pennsylvania AMVETS Riders will be visiting Buckles on his farm in West Virginia on Saturday, June 28, along with members of the Patriot Guard Riders and the Christian Motorcycle Association. Check back with www.amvets.org for coverage of the ride.
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Media Contact:
National
Communications Director
Jay Agg
(301) 683-4035
jagg@amvets.org
National
Publications Editor
Isaac Pacheco
(301)-683-4038
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National
Media Specialist
Ryan Gallucci
(301)683-4073
rgallucci@amvets.org
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