Jump to content
InquilineKea

World War II Veterans

Recommended Posts

To be fair, the title of the article says “Starr Teritahi, the last WWII veteran in Polynesia, is gone”, Ari Won Kim is living in Normandy.

 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Sinbabad said:

To be fair, the title of the article says “Starr Teritahi, the last WWII veteran in Polynesia, is gone”, Ari Won Kim living in Normandy.

 


Weird how actually reading articles before posting keeps you from looking like a jackass. 

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Navy veteran John Goodman died last Friday one day before his 102nd birthday: https://www.stswithuns.com/news/2023-08-14/st-swithun-s-former-bursar-and-world-war-two-navy-veteran-john-goodman-passes-away

 

(Too much cake will kill you...).

 

Arctic Convoys and officerships on HMS Gambia, HMS King George V (which ship sunk the Bismarck), and HMS Fiji (sunk by the Germans off Crete).

  • Like 3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Lawrence "Larry" Kirby, young survivor of the "Battle of Iwo Jima", and then author of the respective book that became that famous movie, dead at 99:

https://www.eagletribune.com/news/larry-kirby-author-and-survivor-of-the-battle-of-iwo-jima-dies-at-99/article_7b6aeac4-009a-5ac2-95ed-07fd31aadadd.html

  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, gcreptile said:

Lawrence "Larry" Kirby, young survivor of the "Battle of Iwo Jima", and then author of the respective book that became that famous movie, dead at 99:

https://www.eagletribune.com/news/larry-kirby-author-and-survivor-of-the-battle-of-iwo-jima-dies-at-99/article_7b6aeac4-009a-5ac2-95ed-07fd31aadadd.html

How many survivors of the Battle of Iwo Jima are they ?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
24 minutes ago, Sinbabad said:

How many survivors of the Battle of Iwo Jima are they ?

There is a good amount of veterans still with us as far as i know

  • Thanks 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 01/03/2023 at 03:12, TheSpinosaurus said:
I'd say around 20 Pearl Harbor survivors left but even that seems to be optimistic.
 
Could only confirm around 10 alive as of 2022.
 
Louis Conter (101) - USS Arizona survivor
Ken Potts (101) - USS Arizona survivor
Joseph Eskenazi (105) - Oldest known survivor
Freeman Johnson (101)
Sterling Cale (101)
Horace Hamilton (98)
Herbert Elfring (100)
Bob Batterson (101)
Ike Schab (102)
Mal Middlesworth (100)
 

Bob Batterson passed away on August 11th, of this year  https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2023/08/15/robert-bob-patterson-pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-at-102-corpus-christi/70598064007/

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 16/01/2023 at 18:08, Ulitzer95 said:


Arthur Ravenel Jr. (wikidead at 95.

15 remaining in the States.

James L. Buckley dead

https://nypost.com/2023/08/18/former-new-york-sen-james-l-buckley-dies-at-100/

 

Al Quie dead

 https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/former-minnesota-governor-congressman-al-quie-dies-99-102394297

Edited by Alex B
Added content

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 17/05/2023 at 12:55, TheSpinosaurus said:

Another notable fast dwindling group to watch out for. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion also known as Six Triple Eight, the only all-black women's unit sent overseas during the war.

 

There's only 6 known surviving members.

 

Anna Mae Robertson (99) - Looked terrible in recent public appearance.

 

Romay Davis (103) - The oldest survivor, but seemingly the healthiest of the lot.

 

Crescencia Garcia (103) - Total immortal. Was hospitalized several times as far as I know, was in critical condition in the ICU with Covid when she was 100 but miraculously recovered, still very looking very much skeletal.

 

Lena King (100) - Confirmed alive on her 100th birthday this year, but no public news since 2022.

 

Fran McClendon (101/102) - Looked decent for her age in last known public appearance but no news in a while

 

Gladys Blount (100) - Very frail physically, but still alert and sharp.

 

And Crescencia Garcia is dead. Surprisingly zero mentions in the news considering past coverage, not even a brief note.

  • Like 5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

. Moved post

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 24/10/2022 at 15:09, gcreptile said:

Well, Jean Pitt-Lewis apparently died on August 21st at age 97, if I read the Google snippet of the Times list right:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/births-marriages-and-deaths-september-9-2022-ltgxt7vtf

 

My longlist now has one Bletchley girl left, Lady Marion Body.

 

One of the last surviving female Bletchley Park codebreakers, who worked helping to decipher enemy communications during the second world war, has died aged 99.

Margaret Betts, of Ipswich, Suffolk, was 19 when she was headhunted by “men from the ministry”, having performed well at school. She agreed to help because she had recently lost her brother because his ship had been sunk by a German U-boat.

SC

  • Like 4
  • Sad 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Any idea how many Free French Forces and Vichy French veterans are remaining? Can somebody compile a list? 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, TheSpinosaurus said:

Any idea how many Free French Forces and Vichy French veterans are remaining? Can somebody compile a list? 

I know a few Free French Forces veterans-

Maurice Le Coutour (1914-)

Free French Army

 

Amadou-Mahtar M'Bow (1921-)

Free French Army and Free French Air Forces

 

Philippe de Gaulle (1921-)

Free French Naval Forces 

 

Colette Escoffier-Martini (1922-)

Merlinettes of the Free French Forces

 

Auguste Plenet (1924-)

Last living French-Guianese veteran of the Free French Army 

 

That's all i know of, haven't found much luck with Vichy France veterans

  • Thanks 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 18/05/2023 at 19:22, arghton said:

As we're listing lasts...

 

Finnish Infantry Regiment 200 aka. "soomepoisid" ("Finnish Boys"). Estonian volunteers who fought for Finland. 

There were 134 at the start of 2017. This article from early 2021 says that there are 15 living in Estonia and "around twenty" outside Estonia. A very recent source says there are have been only four in Estonia since Oliver Tammsalu died a month ago. Soomepoisid facebook said in June 2022 that there should be a total of around 18 alive.

 

Addold Mossin, 103: Neopaganist and political activist. According to online telephone directories, lives in Sweden's Täby. Alive as of December 2022, but last appearance was September 2016 and he was already decrepit back then.

 

Erich Anton, 96: In good health last summer. Died 7 September 2023.

 

Taavi Kaups, 96: Lives in Chicago. Was using a frame in 2021.

 

Lembit Kaselaan, 98: Not in best health but was well enough to be interviewed last year. Died 30 May 2023.

 

Gustav Pitka, 98: Been a while since his last appearance.

 

Edgar Mänd, 98: "In good health" but not seen in years.

 

Heino Sepp, 96: As above.

 

Riho Leipalu, 99: Lives in an apartment building/care home in Rönninge, Sweden.

 

Jaanus Jahilo, 98: Able to walk without aid and still attending events frequently. Probably in the best health out of this group.

 

Artur Roopalu, 98: Still attending events but uses a walking stick.

 

Raivo Rähni, 98: Alive according to Soomepoisid facebook.

 

Endel Hert, 97: As above.

 

Harri Mutvei, 97: Paleozoologist apparently still working! Lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

 

Henry Heino Kivi, 99/100: Alive in 2020 according to Finland's Sotaveteraaniliitto and the Soomepoisid facebook wished him a happy birthday in 2023. 

Erich Anton not in good health anymore as he's dead at 97, updated the list. Jaanus Jahilo and Artur Roopalu attended an event this week both walking without aid.

  • Like 4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 05/02/2023 at 23:22, arghton said:

WWII Navajo code talker John Kinsel Sr. turns 106. As mentioned before there are 3 living World War Two Navajo code talkers left from the 400:

John Kinsel Sr., 106

Thomas H. Begay, 95/98

Peter MacDonald, 94, Navajo Nation crook lord who was once in jail but released 22 years ago due to "failing health" after suffering several heart attacks. Also has diabetes and arthritis, but isn't very frail.

John Kinsel and Thomas Begay at a Navajo Code Talker event a month ago:

kinsel.png.245b300856bcab3df7bd3193a950d415.png

Kinsel (who might actually be "only" 102) is extremely frail and apparently it was a miracle he was well enough to attend even though it was held very near his home as he's been almost completely bedbound and in a near-death state for months. Begay looks well and is healthy enough to regularly attend events so I assume he'll be the last survivor. Peter MacDonald didn't attend.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 18/05/2023 at 19:22, arghton said:

As we're listing lasts...

/---/

Jaanus Jahilo, 98: Able to walk without aid and still attending events frequently. Probably in the best health out of this group.

 

Artur Roopalu, 98: Still attending events but uses a walking stick.

 

Jahilo and Roopalu both live in the Tallinn area. They are presented in today's Helsingin Sanomat.

 

https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009857118.html

 

Roopalu, here seen showing his medals, can also tell about the ordeals in the labour camps of Kolyma and Pechora. He spent many of his after-war years there, before being released in 1954.

 

38b4da090c43766847fff3cef1f5505a.jpg.web

  • Like 2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Jaanus Jahilo tells the interviewers how Soviet Union "liberated" Estonia and "brought culture" there. This hearty smile is his way of assuring that the joke was correctly understood.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Several Pearl Harbor survivors have died since my last update.

 

Bob Batterson died August 11th.

 

Joseph Eskenazi died September 9th.

 

Joseph Richard died September 27th.

 

With this in mind, these are the remaining survivors I know of.

 

Louis Conter (102) - USS Arizona survivor.

Ike Schab (103)

Herbert Elfring (100)

Horace Hamilton (99)

Sterling Cale (101)

 

Possibly alive?

Freeman Johnson (103) - No confirmation since 2021.

 

Right now 5 Pearl Harbor survivors I can confirm alive but let's wait for the Pearl Harbor anniversary to be sure, since that's when living survivors come up in the news.

  • Like 5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Last member of the Blue Division, División Azul, was Arturo de Gregorio Sedeño, who passed away on September 19, aged 102.

 

https://www.hispanidad.com/opinion/muere-ultimo-miembro-division-azul-arturo-gregorio_12045411_102.html

https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20180319/arturo-division-azul-hitler-asesino-no-rusia/290722073_0.html (older article)

 

  • Like 2
  • Facepalm 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
13 hours ago, Hurri Khan said:

Last member of the Blue Division, División Azul, was Arturo de Gregorio Sedeño, who passed away on September 19, aged 102.

 

https://www.hispanidad.com/opinion/muere-ultimo-miembro-division-azul-arturo-gregorio_12045411_102.html

https://www.elespanol.com/reportajes/20180319/arturo-division-azul-hitler-asesino-no-rusia/290722073_0.html (older article)

 

how did you see no problem whatsoever with using an account called 'La Falange?' Is this like using an account called Der Nazi as your source.

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×

Important Information

Your use of this forum is subject to our Terms of Use