Posted on 01/01/2009 11:29:19 AM PST by Flavius
Just before 7:30 a.m., a dozen St. Helena High School students gathered for their first class of the day, a good hour before their peers showed up for school.
Coffee in hand, the students were studying World War I.
It's likely the only elective course of its kind in a U.S. high school - focusing on the so-called War to End All Wars, a conflict quickly covered in regular history classes and left in the historical dust of World War II.
"It gets kind of forgotten and glossed over," said Webster Rasmussen, 16, looking surprisingly alert at 7:30 a.m. World War I "set the stage for the rest of the century."
And then the high school junior launched into an explanation of what he's learned so far - how a relatively small conflict in the Balkans grew into war. After the assassination of an archduke sparked hostilities, alliances forced other countries to take sides.
"It was almost a war of honor, I guess," Webster said.
But the Great War isn't just the stuff of textbooks for these students. It's personal. They now know someone who was there.
On the field trip of a lifetime, two of the St. Helena students traveled to West Virginia with their teacher to meet 107-year-old Frank Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I. The students recorded his memories of the war and his life - an interview the Library of Congress now wants.
The class is also producing a documentary on the war featuring Buckles.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Very cool.
I never got to do stuff like this when I was in school. I got jipped.
Big Bump...
“The students recorded his memories of the war and his life - an interview the Library of Congress now wants.”
I’d like to hear it.
What a wonderful legacy ... I hope the kids UNDERSTAND what others did for them.
It is not lost on the St. Helena teenagers that Buckles was their age when he put on that uniform and that he is now the last of 4.7 million American men and women who served in the war that finally ended on Nov. 11, 1918.
“I would have died in basic training,” said Toby Elder, 15, as he edited the video interview of Buckles.
Toby and classmate Alec Wittschiebe, 16, watched the tape, rewinding to listen closely to Buckles, whose speech is difficult to understand.
“He’s the only one left,” Toby said, shaking his head.
A few minutes later, Toby and Alec paused the tape and flagged a piece of the interview that left them nearly speechless: Buckles tells the students he remembers the first plane he ever saw and previously, a world without airplanes.
Buckles, born two years before Wilbur and Orville Wright took their famed flight near Kitty Hawk, has lived for nearly half of the country’s existence.
During the war, Buckles signed up for the ambulance service and also drove motorcycles, transporting officials and prisoners.
After the war, Buckles went into shipping and subsequently was captured when the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941. He spent the rest of World War II in a Japanese prison camp.
Toby and Alec pause again on another quote.
“I was looking for adventure and adventure was looking for me,” Buckles said.
Sarah McMaster was one of the two students who traveled back to interview Buckles - an experience she said she’ll never forget.
Currently, memorials exist for other wars - World War II, Vietnam, Korea - recognizing those who served and died for their country. But not World War I, save a small, unkempt site on the National Mall honoring the 499 Washington residents who died in the war.
“We need to recognize the people who fought for this country and defended it,” Alec said.
Actually, it is spelled “gypped”—from the word gypsies, as being cheated by one.
But you knew that.
Antonio “Tony” Pierro (February 22, 1896 (according to his birth certificate) or February 15, 1896 (according to himself) – February 8, 2007) was, at age 110, recognized as the oldest living man in the U.S. (since January 9, 2007) and the world’s oldest living WWI veteran (since January 24, 2007). He was one of the last surviving veterans of World War I. He was also a combat veteran, making him an even greater rarity.
Pierro was born in the Italian town of Forenza, the son of Rocco and Nunzia (Dell’Aquilla) Pierro. His birthdate of February 22, 1896 was recorded as February 24, 1896 in the baptismal records. Pierro claimed, however, that he was a week older and it took a week to register. This cannot be officially verified, and it is not entirely satisfactory, as the birthdate could easily have stated February 15, but it did not. In any case, Pierro was born in February 1896.
Pierro immigrated to the United States in 1914, and lived in Marblehead, Massachusetts and Swampscott, Massachusetts. In 1918 he enlisted in the Army, and trained at Fort Dix before being sent off to combat. Pierro saw action in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Pierro served in France with the 82nd Division A.E.F. [American Expeditionary Forces] 320th Field Artillery. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 2005 in Marblehead and IUE Local 21. He was a former member of the American Legion “Redmen” in Swampscott.
Returning to the U.S. in 1919, he married Mary Pierre in 1920. She died in 1967, however, and they did not have children. In civilian life, Pierro worked for the General Electric jet engine plant in Lynn.
In 2006, Pierro celebrated his 110th birthday. Since December 30, 2006 he was the second-oldest living person in the state of Massachusetts, and one of the few remaining combat veterans of World War I anywhere in the world. He became the oldest verified man in the United States on January 9, 2007, following the death of 111-year-old Thomas Nelson, Sr., and on January 24, 2007, when 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro died, Pierro became the oldest WWI veteran and second-oldest man in the world.
Antonio Pierro died on February 8, 2007, just a few weeks shy of his 111th birthday, in Swampscott, where he lived with his 98-year old brother.
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This was the cousin of my next door neighbor. He was the last US combat veteran of WWI. The other surviving vets did not see combat.
When he died, he was just shy of his 111th birthday and very active. Notice he lived with his 98 year old brother!
My neighbor is 78 and in great shape. They have long lived genes in that family.
“I would have died in basic training,” said Toby Elder, 15, as he edited the video interview of Buckles.
I wonder if he is referring to the rigours of basice training, or the flu that ended the war.
Dammed Kill Joy in every crowd... <:)
In 1985 I had the pleasure of interviewing Gen. Jimmy Doolittle at his home in Carmel, CA. Spent about an hour talking to him about WWII, and of course his raid, and touring his home. Definately an experience I’ll never forget.
Stupid me has misplaced the cassette tape that recorded it. I keep kicking myself for that.
You SCHMUCK!
Son & I saw guest-of-honor Frank Buckles during the Memorial Day celebration
at the Liberty Memorial in KCMO. Facility had completed major renovations and is quite impressive. A must see if visiting the mid-west!
See my post #16. The Nation’s only major mem.to WW1.
Would take a full day or more to see it.
http://www.theworldwar.org/s/110/index.aspx
On December 2, 2006, the expanded National World War I Museum opened the window to an extraordinary emotional and intellectual experience. Envisioned by the people of Kansas City, designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates, and designated by Congress
as the nation’s official World War I Museum, the new state-of-the-art complex uses an incredible collection and highly-interactive technology to bring this global history to life............
Rare WWI Renault FT17 Debuts at Museum
After months of anticipation, a Renault FT17 World War I tank is now on exhibit at the National World War I Museum. With a gaping hole in its side, original camouflage paint and a 37 mm gun protruding from its turret, the rare tank is destined to become one of the most popular objects on exhibit at the Museum.
I had a opthamologist who was a WW I vet. He was one of the nioest gentlemen you could ever hope to meet. I think the secret of his longevity was his happy and easy-going outlook on life. Something we should all take into consideration.
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