Frank Woodruff Buckles

Senate bill 2097, introduced to honor those who served in World War I, has been named the Frank Buckles World War I Memorial Act. The bill, if passed, would establish a World War I memorial by renaming the District of Columbia War Memorial as the National and District of Columbia World War I Memorial. The memorial is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Frank Buckles is the last known surviving U.S. veteran of World War I. Buckles, who enlisted when he was 16 years old, admits that he lied about his age to be able to enlist. He was assigned as an ambulance driver in England and France. Buckles was also taken prisoner by the Japanese during World War II. He spent several years imprisoned in a Japanese camp in the Philippines.CNN: Last Surviving U.S. World War I Vet Honored by President (March 8, 2008) The Washington Post: World War I Veteran Reflects on Lessons (November 12, 2007)

1. 1917: Enlists in the U.S. Army; sent to France
2. 1918: Drives prisoners back to Germany
3. 1920: Discharged from the Army
4. 1940s: Prisoner in Japan for three years
5. 2007: Story featured on NBC Nightly News on Memorial Day
6. 2008: Honored at the White House by President Bush