Frank Buckles was born on February 1st 1901, in Bethany, Missouri. At age 15 Frank Buckles wanted to join the army to fight for his country because he was interested in war and wanted to see what war was like. He enlisted in the Marines at the beginning of the United States' involvement in World War I in April 1917. He was only fifteen when he enlisted himself into the Marines; Buckles lied to the corporal and said he was 21. He was turned down by the Marines due to his weight. So he enlisted into the Army.

During his time in service for the United States Army, Frank was stationed in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France. After the Armistice was signed on November 11th, 1918, Frank Buckles was sent to France in 1917 at age 16, where he was a driver for the Army. The Armistice was the treaty that ended World War I. His job as a driver required him to escort prisoners of war back to Germany.

In 1919, after the war had ended, Frank Buckles was stationed in Germany, and he was discharged from service in 1920 having achieved the rank of Corporal. In the 1940s during World War II, Buckles was working for an American shipping line in the Philippines where he was captured by the Japanese. The Japanese sent him to a prison camp where he spent three years during the war.

Frank Buckles is 107 years old and is very healthy. He is currently living in Charlestown, West Virginia. His caretaker states that on a daily basis Frank lifts 2-pound weights and does stretches in the morning. Also, he does around 50 sit-ups in the morning before beginning his day.

To read a transcript of an interview of Frank Buckles please select the button below. | Interview |