[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE LAST DOUGHBOY TURNS 108

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2009

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, this week, Madam Speaker, the very last 
American doughboy, Mr. Frank Buckles, turned 108 years old.
  Of the 4.7 million Americans that were mobilized during the First 
World War, Frank Buckles is the very last of his generation.
  His remarkable life began in Bethany, Missouri where he was born in 
1901, during the administration of the 25th President of the United 
States, President McKinley. At the tender age of 16, Mr. Buckles fibbed 
his way into the Army when he enlisted to fight in the First World War. 
He was rejected by several recruiters, but he was not deterred until he 
finally found a recruiter that would take him. He joined the United 
States Army, and he drove an ambulance in Europe during World War I.
  Throughout his life, Mr. Buckles served in the First World War and 
was held as a prisoner of war by the Japanese for three years during 
World War Two.
  At the incredible age of 108, Mr. Buckles has lived through 46 
percent of our nation's history.
  Today he resides on the family farm he purchased near Charles Town, 
West Virginia after the war.
  Mr. Buckles is one of the forgotten veterans of a forgotten war. He 
is the lone survivor.
  During WWI nearly 116,000 U.S. warriors gave their lives for this 
country. The service and sacrifice of those men and women changed the 
tide of that stalemate war and ensured victory for the Allies. But when 
they returned to the United States there were no parades or major 
memorials established to honor them.
  Despite the fact that WWI was the first war to be fought on three 
continents and was the first industrialized conflict, it remains a 
largely forgotten war.
  Today we have three memorials to the major wars in modern U.S. 
history on the National Mall: the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean 
Memorial, and the World War II Memorial, but no national memorial for 
WWI.
  World War I should not be forgotten because there are few photographs 
and no blockbuster movies to tell the story.
  That's why I introduced the Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act. 
My bill would restore the District of Columbia's World War I Memorial 
and expand it to also serve as the location for a national World War I 
Memorial.
  After 90 years, of no national recognition it's time these doughboys 
were given the thanks that they are due--after all they are the 
``Father's of the greatest generation.''
  Madam Speaker, it's time to honor the Lone Survivor of World War I 
and the other doughboys that went to war in the forgotten war to end 
all wars.
  And that's just the way it is.

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