Posts from The Ringo Kid in thread „Carl's Update on WWI and WWII Veterans“

Quote from chester7777

Carl, you seem very tuned into these things. I know you have more than a casual interest in WWII. How do you hear about these things?

Thanks for sharing the information.

And of course, may Mr. Jacobs RIP.

Chester

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Hi Jim/Sue, quite welcome. Most of the time I get lucky in hearing these things because of a news story on one of the channels or on the radio or sometimes from a friend or two at the WWII site im a member of.

I give my interest in War movies and Mil history mainly to my Mother. She got me interested in that as well as John Wayne. My Dad took part too but not as much as my Mom did. I remember one time when I was in the 2nd grade and my mother took me out of school to watch a John Wayne movie that was being shown on one of the three channels we got at the time. I think it was the first time I got to see The Flying Tigers.

Anyway, I was hooked on the movies (Dukes in particular) and then started reading History books when I was in the 3rd grade. My teacher used to chew on me about not checking out books on other subjects.

I started out reading about the Revolutionary War, then the US Civil War, Napoleanic Wars, WWI, The Boxer Rebellion, back to the Civil War including the Indian Wars, then the Spanish-American War, the Wars for Texas Independance and with Mexico, then Korean and Vietnam Wars, then back down to the French & Indian War, the War of 1812, WWI and I "graduated" to WWII and have been stuck mainly on WWII since I was 15. Occasionally I venture back down in the ages-but not for long.

Since im into WWII the most, I started off reading about the fighting with the Japanese including but not limited to our Island-hopping campaigns, Edson's Radiders, Carlson's Raiders, Doolittle Raiders, Pappy Boyington's VMF 214th Blacksheep Squadron, Guadalcanal & Iwo Jima) both were of great interest to me. It's my opinion that those were some of the hardest fighting in the CBI theater. I then got interested in the fighting in North Africa, Sicily & Italy. After about 2 years of that, my interests included D-Day (the Normandy Invasion-or as the Germans call it: The Invasion Front) the Battle of the Bulge being my favorite of the Western Campaigns. Then I "graduated" to anything and everything dealing with The Eastern Front-and it's by far, my most favorite to study. The Battles of Stalingrad, Kursk and Kharkov in particular.

Sorry my answer is long but

Take care and best regards--Carl.

Hi Mike, Mark, Jay, thank you all and I had a long reply to you all and was trying to post it when the system booted me out.

Hi Mike, I don't have the names of these guys on hand but, im pretty sure they are listed on one of the Iwo Jima Flag-Raising sites. I'll try to look for them for you buy will be at least Wednesday before I can do so.

Raymond Jacobs believed to be the last surviving member of the group of Marines photographed during the original US flag raising on Iwo Jima during WWII, has dies at the age of 82.

Apparently he passed away on January 29th in Redding, California.

Rest in Peace Raymond. :-((

Your quite welcome Jim/Sue. Also, for Mike, I have a first edition copy of Brickhills book lying about somewhere. If I can find it, i'd like you to have it. I saw recently on a German Militaria site, a signed and first edition copy of this book for sale for around 100 Euro. Not sure what that is in US Dollars ;-))

Mr. Bertram "Jimmy James" was one of a few Britich Prisoners of War to avoid being executed for joining the "great escape" from a German POW Camp Stalag Luft III - located in Sagen, Poland.

He was a pilot in a Wellington Bomber that was shot down near Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on June 5th 1940. He was captured the next day. Despite 13 escape attempts from several pow camps, he spent five years as a pow.

On the night of March 24th 1944, James was the 39th man to escape out of the tunnel. He and a Greek companion made it to the railway station, caught a train headed toward the Czech border, but was recaptured two days later. "We were on our way, we hoped, to freedom."

All but three of the escapers were recaptured and 50 Shot. James was one of eight men who were sent to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp just outside of Berlin. He escaped from that prison sometime late 1944, but was recaptured two weeks later.

The James Garner character was based on Mr. James. Also, there were no American prisoners who were in the escape group.

May Mr. James Rest in Peace.

You all are quite welcome. I never thought to expect this day to be so near. I don't know, there is just something that is really special about the WWI guys that is different about the WWII guys which is different than all to the current happenings. Meaning no disrespect of course for anyone who has served.

To the best of my knowledge, I only really knew onw WWI Vet-who was a friend of the family. He had been a Captain in command of a Company of Infantry-by the last name of Cole.

Also, it's probably really possible that I will live to see the last of the WWII vets as well. That is somehting else I am not looking forward to.

Mr.J. Russell Coffey was 109 and living in Ohio at the time of his passing. He was one of only three known WWI vets living (American)

Rest in Peace Mr.Coffey.

The other two are:

Mr.Frank Buckles, 106, of Charles Town, W.Virginia, and Mr.Harry Richard Landis, 108, of Sun City, Fla.

This year we also saw the passings of most of the remaining WWI Vets including one who was the Oldest at the age of 115, and he was Mr. Emiliano Mercado del Toro and who was also briefly known as the worlds oldest living person - for about 3 weeks.

Charlotte Winters, 109, was the last living American WWI Female veteran.

The last Canadian WWI Veteran still living is: Mr. John Babcock, 107, of Spokane, Washington.

Hi GT, yeah. And good thing im not posting about the WWII vets, or this would quickly get out of hand. The Chaplain of the Air Force (at my Uncles funeral in San Antonio a few years ago) said that at that time, we were losing 1,000 WWII vets a day. Now that figure is 1,700 WWII vets passing away daily. :-((

WWI Navy Veteran a Mr. Lloyd, just passed away over the weekend at the age of 105. He had the distinction of being the last known American WWI Navy veteran. He was 105.

As far as it is known, there are now only four American WWI veterans still living. I wonder if there are still any WWI Britich Tommies still living? Does anyone here have any info on them? If so, i'd like to know.

Rest in Peace Mr. Lloyd. :-((

I agree with you all. Also, I just got this bit of news in:

Corporal Howard V. Ramsey was Oregons last living WWI Veteran & last known U.S. combat Veteran of WWI. He passed away in his sleep at the age of 109 on Feb 22-2007. Ramsey inherited this title just two weeks before he passed away. Ramsey inherited this title when Massachutsetts Vet, Antonio Pierro passed away on Feb 8.

Ramsey's life spanned three centuries & 19 Presidents. He was born in Rico, Colorado on April 2-1898, when the US flag had only 45 stars and Pres McKinley was preparing to declare war on Spain.

The only WWI Veteran I remember knowing, was a Captain Cole, who lived two blocks from my house. Sadly, he passed away about 30 or so years ago.

Im always wrong but, I too hope im wrong on this account as well.

Yesterday, America lost another of its dwindling number of WWI veterans. This veteran passed away at the age of 109. This WWI veteran had the distinctions of being the last American female WWI vet living as well as having met with the Secretary of War in 1916, to argue the right for women to serve in our military.

This Ladies name is Charlotte. Charlotte was one of six known American WWI veterans still living, Sadly, now there are only five known living. If anyone keeps track of such things, just three months ago, there were 13 American WWI vets still living. As of Thanksgiving 2006, there were 51 known American vets still alive.

I am hoping I am wrong on this but, it looks like we might not have any WWI vets still alive, before the end of this year.

Rest in Peace Charlotte.

Hi Zack, thanks for that. i'm sure Mr Anderson would have smiled as he read your fine words.

Hi Keith, no problem mate. This is a good way to always have his name online and seen.

Take care my friend--C.

Today, Alfred Anderson, of the 5th Battalion, Black Watch; passed away at his home in Angus, Scotland.

This man was born in 1896, was in one of the first British contingents to serve on the Western Front in WWI. Mr. Anderson is thought to have been the longest surviving veteran of the 1914 Christmas Truce between the British & the Germans. He was 109.

BTW, Mr. Anderson was the WWI vet who laid wreaths at two veterans ceremonies just this past Armistace Day/Veteran's Day.

Rest In Peace Mr. Anderson.

Also, more sad news, Australia's last WWI vet to serve on active duty, passed away about a week or so ago.

May he Rest In Peace as well.

Hi Jay, Smokey.

Jay, thanks for the update on "Tex" Hill. I'm glad to see he is still going strong. I'd love to see him at one of his meets again.

Smokey, thanks for the nice words--they make me feel better. :-)) Heh heh heh, if I had one swig of Whiskey, I would not even see the end of the bed let alone a lemon :-))

Thank you Littleduke/Chris. He certainly was an institution for the USMC.

Hi Jen, I agree with you. It is very sad to lose such a link with past history as Mr. Perkins was.

However, I just came across this today which lifted my spirits a bit. If you recall that series done by HBO called: Band of Brothers--which was about Easy Company in the 101st Para Division. It was centered around a person named Dick Winters.

Well, I found his official website today which also has mailing contact info. His website is: Major Richard (Dick) Winters Website.

He was nominated for the Medal of Honor but never awarded it. Now there is a movement out there that many people are supporting that is trying to help him get this award. I will be mailing out my letter of support to him by weeks end. I sure hope he gets this award that he so well deserves.

Best regards--TRK.

He was:

George Dewey Perkins of Louisiana. He was America's oldest living WWI USMC veteran. He passed away at the young age of 107.

Rest in Peace Sir.

Hello Viper/Arthur,

Viper, I will look forward to doing a quiz with you and anyone interested. How about lets starting it during the first week of January. I have some personal business to attend to which hopefully will not take more time that I am hoping and then we can go from there. I will be back here Mon 3rd (LORD willing)

Arthur, thank you for the offer, i will send you my address. I greatly appreciate this and owe you one.

Take care and best regards--TRK.