The Last Doughboy ?

[JPhilip]

Hello Gentlemen,
I didn't know where to post this thread, but here seems to be the right place for vet news...
According to the french press, maybe the last Doughboy, former member of the American Expeditionary Force in 1918, the Corporal Howard V. Ramsey passed away on the february 22nd of 2007. Born in April 1898 in Colorado, Ramsey did embark for France in September 1918, serving with Motor Transport Corps. He was buried in Portland, oregon, on March 2nd, his coffin carried by a Liberty period truck, escorted by reenactors wearing US period uniforms.
Six or seven WWI US vet are still alive, but none of them served overseas.
(taken from MMagazine, issue 261 of April 2007).
ciao!

[AndrewK]

There's still one who served overseas. He served as a driver. There are very few from any country that actually saw combat though. It goes to show that we're really losing our history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Buckles

[PZIV]

There's still one who served overseas. He served as a driver. There are very few from any country that actually saw combat though. It goes to show that we're really losing our history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Buckles

And I hope you had the chance to interview some vets?

[JPhilip]

There's still one who served overseas. He served as a driver

Andrew thanks for your input. Ramsey served as a driver as well. I think there are still 5 or 6 french WWI soldiers who saw combat and are still alive.
ciao!

[Jean-Loup]

I think there are only 2 or 3 french vets left. One died recently...

[AndrewK]

And I hope you had the chance to interview some vets?

I was actually offered the chance to meet with one a few years ago. He was a sergeant and from what I heard had some very interesting stories. Unfortunately, I waited too long and when I brought up the topic again with the person who originally offered to have me meet him she told me that he had died. Now they're so scarce that I doubt if I'll ever get the chance. before we know it, in just a few decades, we're going to start counting down the WWII vets.

I've seen Harry Patch, the last British soldier to fight in the trenches, interviewed on tv. He is a very interesting person.

[SurvivingPanzer]

USA Today had an article March 30, 2007 on page 3A regarding a ceremony for the last WWI vet (when he passes). The article says there are three left in the US (all Army) One in West Viriginia, one in Central Florida and one in Ohio. I can post the names if you guys want.

The article says three Canadian veterans are left, and seven British are left.