[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 8 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E114-E115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING FRANK WOODRUFF BUCKLES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 1, 2005

  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Frank Woodruff 
Buckles, a World War I veteran who lives in Jefferson County, WV, and 
cordially ask my colleagues here in the House of Representatives to 
join me in wishing Mr. Buckles a happy 104th birthday.
  Frank Woodruff Buckles was born in Harrison County, MO, in 1901. At 
age 16, Mr. Buckles enlisted in the U.S. Army and remains today one of 
America's few surviving Veterans of the Great War. Following the 
Armistice of 1918, Mr. Buckles helped escort POWs back to Germany, only 
to ironically become a POW himself while working for a steamship 
company in the Philippines during the Japanese invasion of 1941. As a 
POW, Frank Buckles took it upon himself to help his fellow prisoners by 
tending the sick and feeding the hungry. In fact, Mr. Buckles even 
convinced the Japanese, who were starving and torturing the prisoners, 
to allow him to plant a vegetable garden in the camp so the prisoners 
would have more rations. On February 23, 1945, General MacArthur got 
word of the prisoners and ordered the 11th Airborne Division to rescue 
them. With no casualties taken during the rescue, the prisoners were 
freed and their 3-year ordeal was finally over.
  Following the war, Frank married Audrey Mayo and moved to the farm in 
Jefferson County, WV that his ancestors have owned since 1732. At age 
104, Frank Buckles continues to work the farm, drive his tractor, and 
likes to read books in several different languages. Frank Buckles is an 
American hero and truly an inspiration to us all.
  In honor of Frank Buckles and his many years of hard work, 
dedication, and commitment to his family, community, and. country, I

[[Page E115]]

ask my friends in Jefferson County and my colleagues here in Congress 
to join me in wishing him a happy 104th birthday.

                          ____________________