AMVETS Riders visit last World War I survivor
By Tom Mitchell
LEADER TIMES
Friday, July 11, 2008
Buzz up!
CHARLES TOWN (W.Va.) -- At age 106, Frank Buckles is the last surviving soldier of World War I. That alone was enough for two groups of AMVETS Riders to pay him due respect. However, the riders visiting Buckles on July 5 learned that he's done some things in his life that most can't begin to imagine, like riding little known vintage motorcycles.
Among 16 riders who visited Buckles on his Charles Town, W.Va. farm, were two members of Kittanning AMVETS Riders Post 13, a group of 13 AMVETS Riders from Tennessee, and a member of the Lakeway Warriors (Tenn.) Christian Motorcyclists Association.
Two local area riders paying their respects were Marge and Vic "Dutch" Stivason of Sugarcreek. Vic Stivason is AMVETS Riders state president. The Stivasons rode about 200 miles on their bikes to meet with Tennessee riders, who traveled about 400 miles to meet Buckles.
"This man is 106, and that in itself is amazing," said Vic Stivason. "But up until a few years ago, he worked on the family's 300-plus acre farm, drove himself to appointments and pretty much managed his own affairs."
Buckles told Stivason and other riders about his experiences riding on two wheels. He said he rode an Excelsior motorcycle, a brand first made in the late 1800s, and later A Royal Enfield, made in the 1920s or 1930s. He said he was 11 years old when the Titanic sank. Just four years later, he lied about his age to enlist in the Army to fight in World War I.
"One of the things I asked Mr. Buckles was about the vintage bikes' speed. He just smiled and said, 'They went very fast.' He has a very sharp memory, and was fascinating to talk with," Stivason said.
During the visit the Tennessee AMVETS Riders presented Buckles with a leather vest with AMVETS Rider patches and a one-of-a-kind, custom made World War I patch. He was given a "Biker's Bible" by the Christian Motorcyclists Association. The Stivasons gave him a framed plaque and a certificate of appreciation for his service to the nation.
One of the highlights of the visit was when one of Buckles daughters brought out a battered metal cup. Buckles told the riders that during World War II he worked as a civilian contractor in the Philippines. Just after the Japanese invaded the islands, he was taken prisoner and held in the Los Banos Internment Camp on the Island of Luzon.
"He passed the cup around for all of us to see and told us that it was his sole eating and drinking utensil the entire time he was a prisoner," Stivason said.
On Feb. 23, 1945, Buckles, along with several American and British civilians, and more than 2,000 U.S. soldiers were liberated from the camp by the 11th Airborne Division.
"Visiting Mr. Buckles was the opportunity of a lifetime," Stivason said. "AMVETS and AMVETS Riders is not only about serving veterans but it's about honoring those who served too. It's totally awesome to think that we were honored to meet the last surviving soldier of World War I.
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