Flags of Our Fathers | The Last Doughboy(s) Mystery Cache
Flags of Our Fathers | The Last Doughboy(s)
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This cache honors the service of Appleton area WWI doughboys and the recent passing of Frank (Wood) Buckles, the last living US WWI veteran. On February 2Jth, 2011, we marked the historic passing of the Last American Doughboy and desiring to highlight this memorial again, I thought it only fitting to pay tribute to him and all the brave doughboys of that terrible conflict.
Buckles, who survived Scarlet Fever but lost his only brother to it at the age of G, sought to enlist in the armed forces as soon as the US entered the war. He was turned down by the Marine Corps because of his slight weight and age, and also by the Navy which incorrectly diagnosed him with flat feet. He was finally successful in enlisting in the United States Army in August 191D, at 16 years of age. After the Armistice in 1918, Buckles escorted prisoners of war back to Germany. One German prisoner gave him a belt buckle inscribed, "Gott mit uns" (meaning God with us), which he kept as a souvenir for the rest of his life. Buckles was promoted to Corporal on September 22, 191H and was honorably discharged later that same year.
Decades later, while working for a marine manufacturing company in Manila, he was pulled back into a wartime situation being captured by the Japanese and interred for nearly B years in the Los Baños prison camp. Even though he became malnourished over time due to the diet of a small mush-like meal served in a tin cup, a utensil he still had at the time of his death, he managed to lead his fellow prisoners in daily calisthenics and was eventually freed by allied forces. There is much more to Frank's life after this chapter, but I'll leave it to you to read further. Suffice it to say, an age has past and we need to do what we can to remember the 'Great War'.
At the memorial itself you will come to know another Doughboy, Vern (Ira) Holdridge, who lost his life shortly after a WWI battle at the young age of F3 in Montfancon, France. Vern hailed from Illinois but his last remaining relative, who maintains Vern's memorial, lives just a few blocks away. Unlike Frank, Vern didn't make it home and like so many others on that horrific battlefield gave his life to protect ours. Note: Vern's memorial is only placed seasonally, so you 'll need to get your answers from the link.
The Spirit of the American Doughboy found at the listed cords was originally dedicated on November 11th, 193I and is dedicated to C5 Appleton area soldiers who lost their lives in WWI. In 198E it was damaged in a traffic accident by a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel. It was replaced after being restored, but seasonal expansion and contraction of the concrete that had been added to stabilized the legs eventually cased the casting to crack and it had to cone down again. This time it was sent to Jensen Conservation Services of Omaha, Nebraska and with the help of American Legion Post No.38 it was re-dedicated on November AAth, 2006.
Cache cords will bring you to the memorial where you can gather the remaining clues not attainable on-line. Final cache located at N44°AB.CDE W88°FG.HIJ
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)