The Last Doughboy to be granted Arlington Burial Upon Death

Frank Woodruff Buckles, 107, will be given a unique honor to match his unique status. Despite never having seen combat, the last surviving WWI vet in the U.S. will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

In April of 1917, when the United States entered the "War to end All Wars," 16 year old Frank Buckles sought to join in the fight like many patriotic young men. He was turned down by Marine and Navy recruiters, but was able to convince an Army Captain he was 18 and enlisted. In March, Buckles was honored with a photo exhibit of the last nine remaining veterans of WWI at the Pentagon. All of them were over 105 years old during the photographs. At the time of the ceremony, only two of them remained. Buckles and 107 year old John Babcock, who served with the Canadian Forces, but later became an American citizen in 1946. When questioned on his age when he enlisted, he simply responded, "I didn't lie! Nobody calls me a liar. I may have increased my age." Buckles served his tour of duty in the U.K., Germany, and France as a driver and warehouse clerk, having traveled there aboard the HMS Carpathia, the famed ship that had rescued the survivors of the Titanic four years earlier. He later transported POW's back to Germany after Armistice Day. He returned home aboard the USS Pocahontas in January of 1920. Buckles worked as a civilian in the Philippines in WWII, and was captured by Japanese forces and held as a POW for 3 1/2 years. He still has the tin cup he ate from over 39 months while being held in Manila. During his two years in Europein WWI, he never saw combat, and he was a civilian in WWII. That would normally disqualify him from burial in Arlington, as you must have earned one of five medals such as the Purple Heart, however he did qualify for cremation and placement in a columbarium in Arlington. Buckles expressed a desire to be buried rather than cremated, so his daughter Susannah Flanagan took up the banner and began an email and letter writing campaign. Buckles received the letter informing him he could be buried on March 19th, with the official certificate arriving two days later having been signed by Army Lt. Gen David H. Huntoon Jr. The Last Doughboy, of the nearly 5 million that served with honor, will be placed in peace near friends after being given this rare exception. An honor worthy of this great American hero. You can read more about Frank Buckles at the US Library of Congress, and see more pictures of the Last Doughboy.