By Tim O’Neil
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/09/2008

Once there were 4.7 million doughboys, the jaunty youngsters in American uniform during World War I. Now there is only Cpl. Frank Woodruff Buckles, born on a farm in Missouri more than 107 years ago.

Buckles, of Charles Town, W.Va., is planning a return to Missouri for the Memorial Day weekend ceremonies at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City.

The memorial, overlooking downtown, was dedicated to the Great War in 1921. It expanded two years ago to include the National World War I Museum.

Buckles was born on Feb. 1, 1901, near Bethany in northwestern Missouri. His family moved to Oklahoma when he was 15. One year later, he lied about his age to enlist in the Army and made it to France during the war as an ambulance driver.

In February, he became the last doughboy after another Missouri native, Harry Landis, died in Florida at age 108. Landis had grown up on a farm north of Hannibal.

The last French veteran of World War I died in March. Germany’s last veteran of that war died in January. Only about a dozen veterans worldwide are known to be alive.

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