Frank Woodruff BuckÂles was born on FebÂruÂary 1st, 1901. At the age of 16, he enlistÂed in the U.S. Army by conÂvincÂing recruitÂing offiÂcers that he was, in fact, 21. In this short film, BuckÂles recalls this time so long ago and the last year of the Great War. There are two parÂticÂuÂlarÂly movÂing pasÂsages in this docÂuÂmenÂtary: when he talks about the difÂfiÂculÂties vetÂerÂans expeÂriÂenced after returnÂing home, and when BuckÂles voicÂes his opinÂions on war in genÂerÂal, and parÂticÂuÂlarÂly war today (“How did we get involved in this thing, Iraq? It was crazy, we have no damn busiÂness in there.”)
Frank died on FebÂruÂary 27th, 2011, at the age of 110. The last surÂvivÂing U.S. vetÂerÂan of World War I, he was propÂerÂly laid to rest at ArlingÂton NationÂal CemeÂtery (find video of the cerÂeÂmoÂny here). There are two tribÂutes to Mr BuckÂles that offer more insight into his life: a short video by the UnitÂed States DepartÂment of VetÂerÂans Affairs and an obitÂuÂary in the WashÂingÂton Post.
By proÂfesÂsion, Matthias RaschÂer teachÂes EngÂlish and HisÂtoÂry at a High School in northÂern Bavaria, GerÂmany. In his free time he scours the web for good links and posts the best finds on TwitÂter.