Frank Buckles, the last American veteran of World War I has died at 110:
In 1917 and 1918, close to 5 million Americans served in World War I, and Mr. Buckles, a cordial fellow of gentle humor, was the last known survivor. "I knew there'd be only one someday," he said a few years back. "I didn't think it would be me."
[. . .]
With his death, researchers said, only two of the approximately 65 million people mobilized by the world's militaries during the Great War are known to be alive: an Australian man, 109, and a British woman, 110.
It's an important milestone when the last people with living experience of an event die, leaving only the history books to insstsruct us. RIP, Mr. Buckles.
