SENATE COMMEMORATION    NO.  23  

Introduced by:    Senators Maher, Adelstein, Begalka, Bradford, Brown, Buhl, Cutler, Frerichs, Fryslie, Garnos, Gray, Hansen (Tom), Haverly, Heineman, Holien, Hundstad, Hunhoff (Jean), Johnston, Kraus, Krebs, Lederman, Nelson (Tom), Novstrup (Al), Nygaard, Olson (Russell), Peters, Putnam, Rampelberg, Rave, Rhoden, Schlekeway, Sutton, Tidemann, Tieszen, and Vehle and Representatives Novstrup (David), Abdallah, Blake, Bolin, Boomgarden, Brunner, Carson, Conzet, Cronin, Deelstra, Dennert, Dryden, Elliott, Fargen, Feickert, Feinstein, Gibson, Gosch, Greenfield, Haggar, Hansen (Jon), Hawley, Hickey, Hoffman, Hubbel, Hunhoff (Bernie), Hunt, Iron Cloud III, Jensen, Jones, Juhnke, Killer, Kirkeby, Kirschman, Kloucek, Kopp, Liss, Lucas, Lust, Magstadt, Miller, Moser, Nelson (Stace), Olson (Betty), Perry, Rausch, Romkema, Rozum, Russell, Schaefer, Sigdestad, Sly, Solum, Steele, Street, Stricherz, Tornow, Tulson, Turbiville, Van Gerpen, Vanneman, Venner, Verchio, White, Wick, Willadsen, Wink, and Wismer
 

        
        A LEGISLATIVE COMMEMORATION, Commending and honoring former Army Corporal Frank Buckles for his service in World War I.

    WHEREAS, Corporal Frank Buckles was the longest living veteran who served in the armed forces of the Allied nations from April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, during World War I; and

    WHEREAS, Corporal Frank Buckles was born on February 1, 1901, in Bethany, Missouri. He was living in Oakwood, Oklahoma, when the United States entered World War I. In August 1917, Frank enlisted in the United States Army; and

    WHEREAS, while serving the United States, Frank drove Army autos and ambulances during the time he was stationed in Bordeaux, France; and

    WHEREAS, after World War I ended, Frank traveled, working for steamship companies. During a business trip to Manila, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and occupied Manila where Frank was

imprisoned from December 1941, to February 1945, until an American airborne unit liberated him; and

    WHEREAS, Mr. Buckles passed away on February 27, 2011, as the longest surviving veteran of World War I:

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT COMMEMORATED, by the Eighty-sixth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, that the Legislature honors Corporal Frank Buckles for his outstanding service during World War I and to the United States of America.