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World War II Veterans

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3 hours ago, YoungWillz said:

Above from New Year Honours thread.

 

Reputable sources on Twittercarcrash stating that 101yo Wilf Oldham has now died, apparently after suffering a recent heart attack.

 

DDP pick.

His Birthday celebrations got Q/O coverage so he surely should Obit. 

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On 15/10/2021 at 19:34, arghton said:

Going through people interviewed in the "Sata tarinaa sodasta" ("One hundred stories about war") Ilta-Sanomat interviews in 2017. These 100 Finnish war veterans/people who experienced the war were interviewed, interesting to see how many are still alive:

 

Part 1:

  Hide contents

1. Jaakko Estola (1918-) Captain, friend of late president Mauno Koivisto

2. Heikki Mälkki (1924-) Sub-lieutenant, Justice of the Supreme Court of Finland 1971-1982 and President of the Court of Appeal (Helsinki) 1982-1988

3. Irma Lähdesmäki (1926-) Lotta Svärd auxiliary paramilitary member 1936-1944

4. Sakari Sippola (1925-2018) Sergeant, Hallintoneuvos of the Supreme Administrative Court 1976-1995

5. Erkki Mäkilä (1924-) Private

6. Reino Kurvinen (1924-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

7. Veikko Määttänen (1918-) Staff Sergeant

8. Antti Henttonen (1922-) Lieutenant, counsellor of education, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Opettaja (Teacher) from 1953 to 1983 and the first person to shake hands with the president of Finland at the Independence Day Reception of 2011

9. Frans Krogell (1921-2019) Sergeant, war invalid

10. Matti Aitto-Oja (1920-2021) Vääpeli/first sergeant and the last living veteran of JR 12

11. Aira Kojo (1931-) Pikkulotta of Lotta Svärd

12. Olli Vuorio (1919-) Major

13. Olavi Sorvari (1925-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

14. Olavi Aulamo (1925-) Sergeant

15. Lars Löflund (1923-) Lieutenant

16. Ilmari Koppinen (1918-) Senior lieutenant, runner and record breaking centenarian sportperson

17. Ahti Jokinen (1924-2017) Private, died before the interviews were released

18. Olli Hovi (1924-) Alikersantti/underlieutenant

19. Kaarina Peltola (1926-) Lotta Svärd member

20. Olavi Lösönen (1926-2019) Sergeant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inY1AxLjbbY (Interviews 1-20, missing captions)

Heikki Mälkki, WWII veteran, sub-lieutenant, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Finland and former President of the Helsinki Court of Appeal mentioned in the spoiler dead at 97:

https://www.hs.fi/muistot/art-2000008424209.html

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On 04/05/2021 at 18:52, arghton said:

Current WWII "lasts" and detailed mentions of what they are the last of:

 

*snip*

Edward Shames (b. 1922) Last officer of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion ("Screaming Eagles") in WWII.
*snip*


Sad news, this one.

Edward Shames (wiki), dead at 99.

As you stated, he was the last living officer of Easy Company ("Band of Brothers"). PFC Bradford Freeman (b. 1924) is now the last surviving member.

Edward_Shames_CROP.jpg.a3f540fbd3327e4c4eaef2443a485c57.jpgUnknown.jpeg.cffe5cb1ca283f12719a67d597240602.jpeg

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Times death notice for David Young MC, aged 100. Member of the Royal Engineers during WWII and recipient of the Military Cross.

Took part in the Battle of Kohima. Some coverage of him from a few years ago here when he returned to Kohima aged 98.

screenshot-2021-12-07-at-00-36.png.9eaf2a7be2f566efc740250a557f50a3.png

10,386 MCs were awarded for WWII. I'd love to know how many are still alive. Must be less than 100, perhaps less than 50.

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Death notice for Peter Spoden (wiki), 100, German Luftwaffe night fighter during World War II.

He only turned 100 last month. Coverage (with picture) here.

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Daily Record reporting the death of Ian Forsyth MBE, aged 96, a celebrated WWII veteran from Lanarkshire who was one of the first liberators to arrive at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945.

evp3pikuyaun4e7.jpg.6b5160a4a74dac83af682d4e9eabaf55.jpg

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December 16, 2021

The oldest Hero of the Soviet Union Vasily Michurin (105 years old) passed away in Belarus.

He was the last of the surviving Hero of the Soviet Union in the world to receive this title for the Soviet-Finnish war and before the start of the Great Patriotic War.

https://news.zerkalo.io/cellar/7349.html

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Мичурин,_Василий_Сергеевич

 

Last interview (2017)

https://sputnik.by/20170505/istoriya-veterana-finskoj-i-velikoj-otechestvennoj-vojny-geroya-sovetskogo-soyuza-1028608650.html

 

 

 

 

IMG_20211217_172028_921.jpg

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Hardy Krüger counts for this category as he was conscripted as a 16 year old in 1944, first into the Wehrmacht and then, in March 1945, the SS! Narrowly avoided being sentenced to death for cowardice when he refused orders. The sorry last days of the Reich when they were reduced to putting children on the front lines.

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Bud Anderson's 100th!! More robust than I thought he would, only needs slight assistance w/walking

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Fred Arsenault, who asked for 100 birthday cards for his 100th birthday, has died weeks shy of his 102nd birthday. Arsenault served in World War II in Italy, Germany and Holland with the Cape Breton Highlanders.

 

https://torontosun.com/news/national/fred-arsenault-veteran-who-requested-100-cards-for-his-100th-birthday-dies-at-101

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Instagram reporting the death of Major General John K. Singlaub of the United States Army (retired), at the age of 100. Singlaub, who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, later became chief of staff of U.S. forces in South Korea until he was relieved of the position after criticizing President Jimmy Carter. By all accounts, a notable military name.

 

 

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Karlheinz Stauber was born in 1914, he is 107 years old now. He is a German WWII veteran. He returned from imprisonment in 1950.

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On 16/09/2021 at 23:40, arghton said:

16th of November 2021 additions:

 

Carlos Garduño Nuñez (1919-) Last surviving Aztec Eagles pilot.

Max Gilbert (1921-) Last Ambon Island POW camp survivor.

Ebou Janha (ca. 1919-) Last surviving veteran of the 1 Gambia Regiment.

-----

https://www.elsoldemexico.com.mx/mexico/sociedad/fallece-carlos-garduno-nunez-el-ultimo-piloto-sobreviviente-del-escuadron-201-7823222.html

Carlos Garduño Nuñez, last surviving pilot of the Mexican Air Force 201st squadron "Aztec Eagles" dead at 102.

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Kazimierz Klimczak, Polish Colonel and WWII recently celebrated his 108th birthday.

gf-nSVq-A2di-ecWR_pulkownik-kazimierz-klimczak-skonczyl-108-lat-to-najstarszy-zyjacy-powstaniec-warszawski-664x442.jpg.bcc1a6812d2c893ae312f14088b57cac.jpg

(Old picture)

He was seriously wounded around 1939, must be one of the oldest "war invalids" living. 

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On 10/11/2021 at 23:48, Ulitzer95 said:

Annette Chalut (wiki), member of the French Resistance during WWII and a survivor of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, dead at 97 (in German).

Along with Francis Huré, Hubert Germain (who just got a Telegraph obit), and Justus Rosenberg, that's four WWII resistants who had English Wiki pages dead in less than a month.

13 survivors from my Wiki watchlist:

Maria Mirecka-Loryś (b. 1916, wiki)
Monique Hanotte MBE (b. 1920, wiki)
Epaminondas Stassinopoulos (b. 1921, wiki)
Jacques Borker (b. 1922, wiki)
Selma van de Perre (b. 1922, wiki)
Valérie André (b. 1922, wiki)
Jacqueline Fleury (b. 1923, wiki)
Madeleine Riffaud (b. 1924, wiki)
Pirro Kondi (b. 1924, wiki) could be dead?
Walkiria Terradura (b. 1924, wiki)
Adolfo Kaminsky (b. 1925, wiki)
Robert Hébras (b. 1925, wiki)
Simone Segouin (b. 1925, wiki)


Monique Hanotte MBE dead at 101.

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Franz Wielander was born in 1914, he is 108 years old now. In 1941, he had to join the Wehrmacht. He was in captivity in Siberia for two years.

 

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On 15/10/2021 at 19:34, arghton said:

Going through people interviewed in the "Sata tarinaa sodasta" ("One hundred stories about war") Ilta-Sanomat interviews in 2017. These 100 Finnish war veterans/people who experienced the war were interviewed, interesting to see how many are still alive:

 

 

Part 1:

  Reveal hidden contents

1. Jaakko Estola (1918-) Captain, friend of late president Mauno Koivisto

2. Heikki Mälkki (1924-2021) Sub-lieutenant, Justice of the Supreme Court of Finland 1971-1982 and President of the Court of Appeal (Helsinki) 1982-1988

3. Irma Lähdesmäki (1926-) Lotta Svärd auxiliary paramilitary member 1936-1944

4. Sakari Sippola (1925-2018) Sergeant, Hallintoneuvos of the Supreme Administrative Court 1976-1995

5. Erkki Mäkilä (1924-) Private

6. Reino Kurvinen (1924-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

7. Veikko Määttänen (1918-) Staff Sergeant

8. Antti Henttonen (1922-) Lieutenant, counsellor of education, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Opettaja (Teacher) from 1953 to 1983 and the first person to shake hands with the president of Finland at the Independence Day Reception of 2011

9. Frans Krogell (1921-2019) Sergeant, war invalid

10. Matti Aitto-Oja (1920-2021) Vääpeli/first sergeant and the last living veteran of JR 12

11. Aira Kojo (1931-) Pikkulotta of Lotta Svärd

12. Olli Vuorio (1919-) Major

13. Olavi Sorvari (1925-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

14. Olavi Aulamo (1925-) Sergeant

15. Lars Löflund (1923-) Lieutenant

16. Ilmari Koppinen (1918-) Senior lieutenant, runner and record breaking centenarian sportperson

17. Ahti Jokinen (1924-2017) Private, died before the interviews were released

18. Olli Hovi (1924-) Alikersantti/underlieutenant

19. Kaarina Peltola (1926-) Lotta Svärd member

20. Olavi Lösönen (1926-2019) Sergeant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inY1AxLjbbY (Interviews 1-20, missing captions)

 

Part 2:

  Reveal hidden contents

21. Leo Merisalo (1925-) Corporal

22. Esko Takala (1926-) Private

23. Heikki Mäntymaa (1924-) Sergeant

24. Harry Hellen (1925-) Senior lieutenant

25. Ola Miettinen (1924-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

26. Paavo Pensamo (1925-2017) Corporal, politician

27. Elma Jormakka (1924-) Lotta Svärd member

28. Matti Jutila (1925-) Corporal

29. Kalevi Launiainen (1924-) Private

30. Paavo Saviaro (1925-) Private

31. Timo Salokannel (1923-) Private, still active

32. Väinö Leppänen (1925-) Corporal

33. Pekka Pakkala (1920-2020) Alikersantti/undersergeant

34. Lauraliisa Pitkänen (1924-) Lotta Svärd member

35. Niilo Ala-Heikkilä (1920-) Sergeant, war invalid. Still active

36. Risto Kiiskilä (1924-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

37. Eino Hartikainen (1918-2016) Sergeant, died before the interviews were released

38. Väinö Kunnas (1926-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

39. Aimo Reinikainen (1924-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

40. Jaakko Huotari (1922-) Private

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFFUA_0n4hc (Interviews 21-40)

 

Part 3:

  Reveal hidden contents

41. Tola Toivinen (1918-2018) Senior lieutenant, engineer

42. Fanny Mönkkönen (1921-) Lotta Svärd member

43. Eino Kinnunen (1923-) Corporal, had bullets in both of his lungs

44. Olli Kivioja (1925-2018) Medical lieutenant

45. Eeva Tapio (1927-2019) Lotta Svärd member, member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters

46. Pentti Vanamo (1925-) Sergeant, wanted to join the SS

47. Onni Sarilampi (1923-2019) Sergeant

48. Kaarina Alvajärvi (1922-) Lotta Svärd member, operated a searchlight

49. Veijo Saloheimo (1924-2020) Senior lieutenant, historian

50. Heikki Aho (1924-) Private, border guard

51. Leo Jokelainen (1923-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

52. Kauko Kaapeli (1925-2021) Sergeant

53. Matti Orrela (1922-) Corporal

54. Jukka Simola (1926-2020) Alikersantti/undersergeant

55. Kosti Keski-Nummi (1923-2018) Senior lieutenant, flying ace with 5,5 victories

56. Paavo Mikkola (1924-) Corporal

57. Veikko Ilmasti (1928-) Alikersantti/undersergeant, inventor

58. Veikko Jokinen (1923-) Sergeant, mechanic

59. Taisto Tähkämaa (1924-) Corporal, Parliament member 1970-1991, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry 1979-1982 and 1982-1983 and Minister of Defence 1977-1979

60. Jaakko Heikinheimo (1927-) Volunteer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwtiqhF5Rvg (Interviews 41-60)

 

Part 4:

  Reveal hidden contents

61. Hans Andersson (1922-) Senior lieutenant

62. Lauri Lähteenmäki (1922-2017) Captain lieutenant, died before the interviews were released

63. Aune Rahola (1923-2020) Lotta Svärd member, radist

64. Aatto Mukari (1924-) Jäger

65. Aira Samulin/Aira Suvio-Samulin (1927-) Lotta Svärd member, dance teacher and entrepreneur

66. Reino Lehväslaiho (1922-2019) Vääpeli (company sergeant major), panzer ace, "sotakamreeri" and author

67. Lauri Hemmi (1925-) Sergeant

68. Markus Aaltonen (1918-2018) Sergeant

69. Tarmo Ahti (1915-2019) Sergeant

70. Martti Lehtovaara (1920-2019) Ylikersantti

71. Kaino Kauranen (1924-) Private, one of the olympic torch carriers in 1952

72. Antti Jahkonen (1925-) Corporal, in great health

73. Helmi Kotkanen (1925-) Lotta Svärd member

74. Varpu Pöyry (1923-) Lotta Svärd member

75. Esko Pakkala (1925-) Corporal

76. Heikki A. Reenpää (1922-2020) Major, former managing director of Otava and father of Timo Reenpää (1949-2020)

77. Yrjö Kaukiainen (1928-) Sergeant

78. Kauko Ritaluoma (unknown, ca. 1923-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

79. Lauri Kultalahti (1924-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

80. Erkki Pihlapuro (1925-) Armoured division private

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_gvL1s2Cz0 (Interviews 61-80)

 

Part 5:

  Reveal hidden contents

81. Jouko Eräkorpi (1921-) Senior lieutenant, war invalid

82. Ritva Tuulos (1924-2020) Lotta Svärd member, radist

83. Juhani Eskola (1922-2020) Lieutenant, pilot

84. Elisabeth Rehn (1935-) Lotta Svärd member, Undersecretary General of the United Nations 1995-1999 and Minister of Defence 1990-1995, youngest person interviewed

85. Viljo Lehtinen (1923-) Vääpeli/first sergeant

86. Jouko Korhonen (1921-) Senior lieutenant

87. Tuomas Gerdt (1923-2020) Captain, last living recipient of the Mannerheim Cross

88. Mauri Maunula (1921-) Captain, still active

89. Salomon Altschuler (1913-2019) Corporal

90. Saara Kanerva (1912-2019) Lotta Svärd (war censor), oldest person interviewed

91. Lauri Puonti (1924-) "Dieselmatruusi" seaman

92. Pauli Salonius (1919-2017) Ylimatruusi/lance corporal

93. Valto Pusenius (1925-) Jäger

94. Erik Holmström (1920-2020) Sergeant

95. Mauno Turunen (1923-) Lieutenant

96. Viljo Saari (1921-) Sergeant

97. Milja Eräkorpi (1929-) Lotta Svärd member

98. Eeva-Liisa Kumpulainen (1924-) Lotta Svärd member

99. Jaakko Valtanen (1924-) General, Chief of Defence of the Finnish Defence Forces 1983-1990, first guest to greet the President of Finland in the annual Independence Day Receptions since 2016

100. Yrjö Savola (1923-) Sergeant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4WEjrwubQE (Interviews 81-100).

 

36. Risto Kiiskilä (1924-2022) Alikersantti/undersergeant, mentioned in the second spoiler, dead at 97: https://www.hs.fi/muistot/art-2000008657347.html

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John Billings, who flew Allied spies behind Nazi lines, dies at 98.

Lonnnnnggg obit do feel free to read at your leisure; I’m posting the headline..

SC

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