Frank Woodruff Buckles
Frank Wood ruff Buckles [undated] | World War I, 1914-1920
Army
1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment
United States; England; France; Germany
Corporal
Harrison County, MO |
1901-1922 World War One…
Frank Buckles was born on the family farm in Harrison County, Missouri in 1901.
At the age of 15 he loaded the family horses onto a boxcar and traveled to Oakwood,
Oklahoma where he got a job as a banker, went to high school and lived by himself in
a hotel. In 1917 The United States entered World War I and propaganda posters began to
surface in this small town. Buckles, an adventurous spirit decided to enlist. After
several rejections he eluded a recruiter about his young age and enlisted at the age
of 16 in the United States Army. Training in Ft. Riley, Kansas. Buckles eventually
deployed from Hoboken, New Jersey on the Carpathia, the ship that rescued the only
survivors of the Titanic. On the journey Buckles discussed extensively the first hand
accounts of the crew about the tragedy of the Titanic. Buckles arrived in Scotland then
served as a motorcycle driver for dignitaries, an ambulance driver and prison guard in
England, France and Germany where he served for the American Expeditionary
Forces and assisted escorting German Prisoners back at the end of the war. Buckles
returned to the United States in 1920 as a corporal.
4,734,991 Americans served from 1917-1918 during World War One, the Great
War. 116,516 Americans died during and as a result of this war. For Frank the path
that fait would lead has brought a common American farm boy to have an uncommon
story and to be the lasting symbol of this war. Now, at the age of nearly 109 Frank
Woodruff Buckles is the last doughboy, and a legacy of American sacrifice. Franks
story encompasses a unique example that is deeply woven within the fabric of the
twentieth century American experience. Surely, his life story is one that will
profoundly transform all who view it.
His journey to age 16 is a movie in itself. When you combine the rest of his life
with it the lines of this story weave together to form an intricate and award winning
script. Destiny would assure that this adventuresome lifestyle would continue the
rest of his life sometimes by choice and sometimes by the luck of the draw.
America could not have requested a better ambassador for the World War One
generation. Frank Buckles is a statesmen, historian and well versed in global history
clearly demonstrating the power of freedom, survival and democracy. The historical
value, inspiration and power contained within it are sure to persuade, encourage
and transform the globe this influential story.
1922-1945- World War Two…
Spanning over a century Frank Buckles life experiences as a soldier during World
War I then his storybook life truly are unimaginable. After being an ambulance
driver and WWI soldier he was an assistant purser of the ship the Western World and
working for the American President Lines. His travels via steam ship eventually
brought him to Manila where he was captured by the Japanese as a civilian and
became a Prisoner of War in World War II. For 39 months Frank survived on a s
mall tin cup of beans, rice and worm filled mush until his rescue by the 11th
Airborne Division of the United States Army on 23 February 1945.
Frank and the other prisoners were slated for execution that same morning. To
this day he still has the cup and the memories of what occurred. The cup serves as an
inspirational reminder for Frank to keep fighting. After nearly starving to death and
witnessing the Japanese atrocities in the prison camp he chose a peaceful life and
settled in West Virginia where his family ancestry and roots began in the 1700’s as
an American Farmer. His cattle farm also dates back to the 1700’s and overlooks the
mountains of Antietam and Harpers Ferry where he worked the farm and drove the
family tractor until 102.
2006 and beyond becoming the last witness…
As the years progressed and the numbers have dwindled of World War
One Survivors Frank often reflects: “I knew I would be the one of the
last ones, but never expected to be the last”. Frank has become the
central figure and icon for a National WWI Memorial in Washington DC where he is frequently swarmed by media when he arrives to speak or pay tribute to those who have sacrificed. Franks story is the embodiment
of America and a humanity project packed with historical value and
public interest. Followed by millions through frequent coverage on the national and international networks Buckles story drives home the American century with a personal and intimate link for both young and
old of 100 years of American History.
- Service History Note:
- Veteran served as an ambulance driver. After the Armistice, Veteran was with a prisoner of war (POW) Escort company returning prisoners back to Germany. Veteran was also held for three years and two months as a Japanese POW during World War II (he was a civilian at this time traveling abroad with his shipping business).
Frank Buckles
