Today in Wheeling History: February 27--Frank Buckles, last surviving American World War I veteran and member of Wheeling's Osiris Shriners known as "the oldest Shriner in Shrinedom," dies at age 110 (2011).
Frank Woodruff Buckles, born Wood Buckles on February 1, 1901, in Bethany, Missouri, grew up in Oklahoma. In August 1917, at age 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Army after lying about his age. He served with the 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment, driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in England and France during World War I. After the Armistice, he escorted German prisoners back to Germany. For his WWI service, he received the World War I Victory Medal, four Overseas Service Bars, and the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal. During World War II, while working as a civilian shipping executive in Manila, Philippines, he was captured by Japanese forces in January 1942. He spent three years and two months as a civilian prisoner in the Santo Tomas and Los Baños prison camps, both in the Philippines, where he endured severe malnutrition, dropping below 100 pounds and developing beriberi. Despite his condition, he led fellow captives in calisthenics and maintained a small garden to help feed imprisoned children. He was freed in a dramatic raid by Allied forces on February 23, 1945. A Freemason and longtime Shriner, he was a member of the Osiris Shriners of Wheeling, West Virginia, and became known as "the oldest Shriner in Shrinedom." He lived an extraordinarily long life, passing away at age 110 years and 26 days on February 27, 2011, at his Gap View Farm near Charles Town. Following his death, he was honored with a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, where he was buried in Section 34, near General John J. Pershing.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3rvsysp9), Martinsburg Journal (https://tinyurl.com/3d3v46pd), Masonry Today (https://tinyurl.com/5ydmudvk), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/yt364wb3)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Soldiers Media Center via Wikimedia Commons, U.S. Army, Find a Grave
Frank Woodruff Buckles, born Wood Buckles on February 1, 1901, in Bethany, Missouri, grew up in Oklahoma. In August 1917, at age 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Army after lying about his age. He served with the 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment, driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in England and France during World War I. After the Armistice, he escorted German prisoners back to Germany. For his WWI service, he received the World War I Victory Medal, four Overseas Service Bars, and the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal. During World War II, while working as a civilian shipping executive in Manila, Philippines, he was captured by Japanese forces in January 1942. He spent three years and two months as a civilian prisoner in the Santo Tomas and Los Baños prison camps, both in the Philippines, where he endured severe malnutrition, dropping below 100 pounds and developing beriberi. Despite his condition, he led fellow captives in calisthenics and maintained a small garden to help feed imprisoned children. He was freed in a dramatic raid by Allied forces on February 23, 1945. A Freemason and longtime Shriner, he was a member of the Osiris Shriners of Wheeling, West Virginia, and became known as "the oldest Shriner in Shrinedom." He lived an extraordinarily long life, passing away at age 110 years and 26 days on February 27, 2011, at his Gap View Farm near Charles Town. Following his death, he was honored with a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, where he was buried in Section 34, near General John J. Pershing.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3rvsysp9), Martinsburg Journal (https://tinyurl.com/3d3v46pd), Masonry Today (https://tinyurl.com/5ydmudvk), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/yt364wb3)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Soldiers Media Center via Wikimedia Commons, U.S. Army, Find a Grave
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