[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING FRANK WOODRUFF BUCKLES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT T. SCHILLING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2011

  Mr. SCHILLING. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express honor and respect 
for Frank Woodruff Buckles. Frank was born on February 1st, 1901, and 
recently passed away on February 27, 2011 as the last of 4.7 million 
Americans who served in World War I. I rise today to memorialize and 
honor his amazing life.
  Eager to serve his country, Mr. Buckles enlisted in the Army at the 
age of 16. Even though he was not old enough to serve in the military, 
Frank found a way. When asked for his birth certificate, Frank told the 
Army recruitment officer, ``...the public records were not made of 
births in Missouri at the time I was born, and my record would be in 
the family Bible.'' He was subsequently deployed to Europe in 1917 and 
returned home in 1921 to begin his career.
  During WWII Frank worked in Manila. After the Japanese invaded the 
Philippines in 1941, Frank spent three-and-a-half years in a Japanese 
prison camp before being rescued in 1945.
  Frank was a true patriot, and made it a priority to contribute to the 
success of the country he loved. He lived a long and accomplished life, 
and it is very important to commemorate the conclusion of this 
generation of American soldiers. As Frank Buckles is laid to rest today 
at Arlington National Cemetery, with full military honors, let us pause 
and reflect on the sacrifices of his generation.

                          ____________________