Nation Prepares For Farewell to WWI Veterans

With the recent passing of Harry Landis of Sun City, Florida, 107-year-old Frank W. Buckles of Charles Town, West Virginia is now the last known remaining American veteran of World War I. Buckles, who joined the U.S. Army at the age of 16, remains in excellent health, and served as Honorary Marshal for World War I in the 2007 National Memorial Day Parade. Still, the nation should give pause to remember the millions of Americans who served during “The Great War,” and honor the valor and sacrifice that they demonstrated in the fields and trenches of Europe, 90 years ago.

Frank Buckles was interviewed in the inaugural issue of American Valor Quarterly, available by clicking here.

AVC Honors Dr. Lewis Sorley with the First Andrew Goodpaster Prize

On December 11, 2007, the American Veterans Center sponsored the First Andrew J. Goodpaster Prize and Lecture at the Army and Navy Club in Washington, DC. The prize was presented to Dr. Lewis Sorley, whose groundbreaking work on the Vietnam War has changed the way historians have examined the United States’ role in Southeast Asia during the 1960s and 1970s. Dr. Sorley is author of such works as Thunderbolt: General Creighton Abrams and the Army of His Times and the Pulitzer Prize nominated A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and Final Tragedy of America’s Last Years in Vietnam.

General Andrew J. GoodpasterThe lecture and prize were given in honor of the late General Andrew J. Goodpaster. General Goodpaster was a decorated veteran of World War II who went on to become one of President Eisenhower’s closest advisers, Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, and Superintendent of West Point. He epitomized the ideal of the “soldier-scholar,” and this lecture and prize was created to honor military men and women who have conducted military scholarship of the highest quality in the tradition of General Goodpaster.

The lecture was given to a sold out audience of over 150 individuals, including family, friends, and colleagues of General Goodpaster. Dr. Sorley’s remarks will be printed in the Summer 2008 issue of American Valor Quarterly.

Last WWI trench soldier honored

Harry Patch, who is believed to be the last surviving soldier of WWI’s brutal trench warfare, was honored at a special ceremony in Somerset, UK on Oct 27. The 109 year old Patch paid tribute to his fallen comrades at the launch at a “poppy appeal” - the selling flowers in the weeks prior to Rememberance Day to raise money for veterans. The tradition of using poppies as a symbol of rememberance and as a fundraiser (inspired by the 1915 poem “In Flanders Field”by Major John McCrae of Canada) has been more prevalent in the UK and other allied countries than the US, although organizations such as the American Legion and VFW also promote the wearing of poppies on Memorial Day. 

Frank Buckles of West Virginia, one of the last American vets of WWI, participated in the 2007 National Memorial Day Parade.

Flag folding tradition banned at military burials

Once again, fear of the litigious culture lurking within the US has caused the termination of a significant tradition. The VA’s National Cemetery Administration has banned the recitation of the 13 folds of the US flag at military burials because of a single complaint over religious content. The tradition involves reciting the importance of every fold of the flag as it is presented to the families of those being laid to rest. Unfortunately, someone took issue with the 11th fold which honors Jewish veterans. Rather than taking a stand against intolerance - at the risk of facing a lawsuit - the government will no longer allow the recitation at any of the 125 national cemeteries.

Although the tradition is not part of the US Flag Code, it has been an optional ceremony favored by many veterans and their families. The fact that it has been banned is simply disgraceful and disrespectful.

Hitler’s globe for sale

A globe that once belonged to Adolf Hitler is being put up for auction by the U.S. veteran who found it in Berchtsgaden in the waning days of WW2. The globe - which has a well-documented provenance - is expected to fetch $15,000-$20,000.

The existence of the globe and its intriguing history was unknown to all except for a few close friends of the vet. It makes you wonder how many other fascinating items are tucked away in the attics.  All vets should be encouraged to record the history of their souvenirs so that the significance of their items will not be lost.

America’s Greatest Heroes to Gather

From November 8-10, 2007, some of America’s greatest military heroes will converge on Washington for the American Veterans Center’s 10th Annual Conference. Included will be such noted World War II veterans as the “Band of Brothers”, Tuskegee Airmen, and the men who took Mt. Suribachi during the epic battle of Iwo Jima. Joining them will be the Vietnam veterans made famous by the film We Were Soldiers, as well as a number of recipients of our nation’s highest military award - the Medal of Honor.

But what will make the conference a weekend to remember is the inclusion of some of the most highly decorated veterans Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. It is in these brave young men and women that the traditions of duty, honor, and country seen in our previous generations continues on.

The public is invited to register for this unique event honoring our military. To learn more, visit http://www.americanveteranscenter.org/AVC_conference.html or call 703-302-1012 ext. 220.

Islander who saved JFK finally honored

The Solomon Islander who rescued JFK during WW2 has received a long overdue reward from the US government. Eroni Kumana was the local man who reached U.S. forces for help after the PT boat commanded by JFK was rammed by Japanese destroyer in 1943, stranding the crew on an island behind enemy lines. The Secretary of the Navy and the crew of the USS Peleliu recently visited Kumana to present him with gifts and to repair his home which had been damaged in an earthquake. 

As courageous as JFK actions were during the incident, it is interesting to note that the Kennedy family has a decidedly mixed record when it comes to water rescues.

WWI memorial finally returns home

Local historians in Waterford, MI deserve kudos for their diligence in tracking down the proper home for a plaque honoring WWI vets. The plaque had been discovered in a thrift store decades earlier with few clues as to where it originated.  Thanks to dedicated research, the historians were able to identify the church where the plaque was probably displayed until the structure was razed in the early 1960s. The plaque will now hang in a prominent location at the church’s new site, ensuring that the contributions of the community’s doughboys are duly remembered.

Perhaps this would be a good time to note that there is still no national WWI memorial in Washington, DC, only a memorial dedicated to local residents who died during the Great War. However, this memorial is in poor condition and has been designated as an endangered site by the DC Preservation League.

Remembering the Hindenburg and the USS Akron

With this past Sunday marking the 70th anniversary of the Hindenburg crash, many news reports stated that the fiery collapse of the German zeppelin resulting in the deaths of 36 passengers was the worst airship disaster in history. Actually, the tragic crash over the Atlantic of the USS Akron on April 3 1933 took a bigger toll, claiming the lives of 73 of the vessel’s 76 US Navy crew members. The Hindenburg is just better remembered because of the spectacular footage that captured its final moments.

In a bit of irony,  the three survivors of the Akron were rescued by a German sailors, while US sailors pulled German passengers from the wreckage of the Hindenburg. 

Town goes beyond the call of duty to honor its WWII vets

In a regional story that deserves national attention, the community of Waconia, Minnesota raised $50,000 to send its veterans to see the National WWII Memorial. This Wednesday, over 120 of Waconia’s vets will arrive in Washington, D.C. to visit the memorial and the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, returning later in the evening.  Contributing to the trip were school children who raised $14,000 and a wounded vet on leave from Iraq who chipped in $500. The local hospital also donated $5,000 and is providing nurses and doctors to accompany the vets.  

The efforts of Waconia to honor its WWII vets is truly remarkable and touching.  Communities throughout the United States are encouraged to launch similar campaigns to reward its vets who would probably otherwise never have the opportunity to see the National WWII Memorial.

The American Veterans Center salutes the fine people of Waconia for the respect and appreciation that they have shown their vets.