World War II Veterans

[The Old Crem 3,181]

On 12/10/2023 at 14:45, Hurri Khan said:

The last surviving female Special Operations Executive agent Phyllis "Pippa" Latour MBE / Phyllis Doyle, aged 102.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Latour

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/300985405/decorated-wwii-special-ops-agent-has-died-in-west-auckland-aged-102

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/world-war-ii-and-d-day-spy-veteran-pippa-latour-doyle-dies-aged-102/QWJBVMTFLRD4HAR26UN3NONLM4/

Got a BBC breaking news alert a couple of days ago and very interesting obituary from them. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67100792

[Sir Creep 7,015]

3 hours ago, Tango854 said:

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.

If the information is accurate who gives a shit?  

[Tango854 207]

9 hours ago, Sir Creep said:

If the information is accurate who gives a shit?  

I have no idea if this information is accurate or not given that the only source is a tweet and a news article that uses said tweet. I have no idea what is the relation between this fascist and the other fascist beyond them both being spanish fascists.

[Hurri Khan 31]

On 16/10/2023 at 08:50, Tango854 said:

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.

There were no other sources.

 

Friedrich Grade, German U96-engineer, naval officer and last surviving eyewitness to the submarine's patrols, has died at age 107 on October 16, 2023.

https://www.bild.de/news/inland/news-inland/u96-veteran-friedrich-grade-der-letzte-mann-vom-boot-geht-mit-107-auf-seine-letz-85770198.bild.html

[YoungWillz 19,106]

On 24/08/2017 at 22:22, Thatcher said:

Jack Perry, one of the last surviving members of the Guinea Pig Club, has died aged 92.

Sam Gallop of the Guinea Pig Club, reportedly dead: 

 

[Alex B 83]

Just now found out about the death of the last Cowra breakout survivor 

https://www.cowraguardian.com.au/story/8365552/last-surviving-cowra-breakout-prisoner-passes-away/

Edited October 20, 2023 by Alex B

[Ulitzer95 11,089]

Somewhat of a shock this one.

Times death notice (in spoiler below) for John Nutman, a survivor of the RMS Lancastria sinking (wiki), aged 103.

Why a shock? Because the media reported that Reg Brown was the last survivor when he died in 2018.
 

Spoiler

John Goderson, passed away peacefully on 2nd October 2023, aged 103. Army veteran of WW2, survivor of the sinking of the Lancastria and the Battle of Monte Cassino. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all his family, friends and colleagues. The funeral service will be held at Kent and Sussex Crematorium, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on Friday 27th October at 1.45pm. Family flowers only please. If desired, donations to the Salvation Army or Hospice in the Weald. Inquiries to: Francis Chappell & Sons Funeral Directors, 27 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1AR. Phone: 01732 450203.

 

[Tango854 207]

15 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Somewhat of a shock this one.

Times death notice (in spoiler below) for John Nutman, a survivor of the RMS Lancastria sinking (wiki), aged 103.

Why a shock? Because the media reported that Reg Brown was the last survivor when he died in 2018.
 

  Reveal hidden contents

John Goderson, passed away peacefully on 2nd October 2023, aged 103. Army veteran of WW2, survivor of the sinking of the Lancastria and the Battle of Monte Cassino. He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all his family, friends and colleagues. The funeral service will be held at Kent and Sussex Crematorium, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on Friday 27th October at 1.45pm. Family flowers only please. If desired, donations to the Salvation Army or Hospice in the Weald. Inquiries to: Francis Chappell & Sons Funeral Directors, 27 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1AR. Phone: 01732 450203.

  

wow! next you will tell me that Simcha Rotem wasn't the last Warsaw ghetto uprising fighter!

[La Tombe 265]

On 12/08/2023 at 06:57, arrowsmith said:

This article is very clear that he was the second to last. This leaves Ari Won Kim as the last Tahitian (and French Polynesian) veteran. 
 

Edit: adjusted punctuation 

And now, there are no more French Polynesian veteran during WW2 left.

Ari Wong Kim has just passed away aged 99.

[maryportfuncity 10,017]

On 17/10/2023 at 11:58, Hurri Khan said:

There were no other sources.

 

Friedrich Grade, German U96-engineer, naval officer and last surviving eyewitness to the submarine's patrols, has died at age 107 on October 16, 2023.

https://www.bild.de/news/inland/news-inland/u96-veteran-friedrich-grade-der-letzte-mann-vom-boot-geht-mit-107-auf-seine-letz-85770198.bild.html

 

 

Ah shit, sitting 2nd on my top talent list for next year

[YoungWillz 19,106]

On 19/10/2023 at 13:56, YoungWillz said:

Sam Gallop of the Guinea Pig Club, reportedly dead: 

 

Report of the death of Jan Stangryczuk (otherwise Stangryciuk) Black of the Guinea Pig Club, which probably wipes them all out.

 

 

[arghton 6,124]

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 (1918-2023) 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 (1924-2023) Private

6. Reino Kurvinen (1924-) Alikersantti/undersergeant

7. Veikko Määttänen (1918-2022) Staff Sergeant

8. Antti Henttonen (1922-2022) 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 (1924-2022) 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 (1924-2022) 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 (1922-2023) 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 (1927-2023) Lotta Svärd member, dance teacher and entrepreneur

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

67. Lauri Hemmi (1925-2022) 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 (1921-2023) 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 (1925-2022) Jäger

94. Erik Holmström (1920-2020) Sergeant

95. Mauno Turunen (1923-2022) 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 (1923-2022) Sergeant

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

 

Updated for the deaths of for example Aira Samulin, who was a member of the Lotta Svärd auxiliary paramilitary during WWII.

 

Samulin was also a "Lotta of the year" of the Lotta Svärd Foundation in 2021. Full list below of the recipients, with some bad translations

 

2007: Tellervo Hakkarainen (1916-2008) Longtime head of Työmaahuolto Oy that for example catered the 1952 Summer Olympics, later Chair of the Lotta Svärd foundation.

2008: Hilda Laasonen (1921-2012) Helped provide large amounts of material for archives and museums.

2009: Raili Malmberg (1926-2024) former editor-in-chief of Kotiliesi and Koululainen, head of the Lotta Svärd Heritage Foundation 2004-2007.

2010: Riitta Uosukainen (1941-) former Speaker of the Finnish Parliament. Of course not a wartime member of Lotta Svärd due to her age, award given for speaking for the rights of the former Lotta Svärd members.

2011: Aune Rahola (1923-2020) Longtime member of the Lotta Svärd Foundation board.

2012: Elisabeth Rehn (1935-) Former Minister of Defence, "served" as a junior lotta 1943-1944. 

2013: Marjatta Usva (1917-?) Helped evacuate fallen soldiers, saved their personal belongings for museum/archive use.

2014: Helvi Frick (1917-2018) Active in local Lotta Svärd heritage foundations for decades.

2015: Aura Aumo (1922-) Joined Lotta Svärd before the Winter War, fled Ladoga by foot during the continuation war in 1944.

2016: Maija Kitinoja (1917-2021) Active in local Lotta Svärd heritage foundations for decades.

2017: Ritva Tuulos (1923/1924-2020) Founder, head of the Pori Lotta Svärd heritage foundation for two decades, member of the Lotta Svärd Foundation board.

2018: Airi Nieminen (1923-) Frontline Lotta Svärd member (nurse)

2019: Aune-Leea Huotari (1919-dead?) Blood transfusion nurse.

2020: Aila Salo (1928-) Junior lotta from 1937. Became a sculptor after the war, honorary member of the Lotta Svärd Heritage foundation

2021: Aira Samulin (1927-2023) Junior lotta who became a dance instructor and media personality.

2022: Siiri Kaarina Alvajärvi (1922-) 14th Searchlight Battery. 

2023: Aili Inkeri Korva (1922-) "Air surveillance"

[Sinbabad 830]

French Auguste Plenet, Guyane last surviving member of the Forces Françaises Libres has died aged 99.

[arrowsmith 334]

1 hour ago, Sinbabad said:

French Auguste Plenet, Guyane last surviving member of the Forces Françaises Libres has died aged 99.

Auguste Plenet, last surviving Guianese member of the Forces Françaises Libres, has died aged 99.

 

Fixed that for you - your wording was ambiguous. 

[La Tombe 265]

 

On 31/10/2023 at 22:19, arrowsmith said:

Auguste Plenet, last surviving Guianese member of the Forces Françaises Libres, has died aged 99.

 

Fixed that for you - your wording was ambiguous. 

It’s better to say like that : Auguste Plénet, the last living French Guianese veteran during WW2 has died at 99.

 

It’s really sad to see all these last living  veterans gone…the memories of WW2 are fading. By 2030, WW2 will be definitely in the History Books and no more narred by those who participated in the conflict so SAD !

[roaming_comrade 454]

19 hours ago, La Tombe said:

 

It’s better to say like that : Auguste Plénet, the last living French Guianese veteran during WW2 has died at 99.

 

It’s really sad to see all these last living  veterans gone…the memories of WW2 are fading. By 2030, WW2 will be definitely in the History Books and no more narred by those who participated in the conflict so SAD !

Well the last WW1 Veteran died in 2011/12 (depending on who you count), 93/94 years after the war ended so things will only be reaching their end by 2040.

[Lafaucheuse 3,659]

3 hours ago, roaming_comrade said:

Well the last WW1 Veteran died in 2011/12 (depending on who you count), 93/94 years after the war ended so things will only be reaching their end by 2040.

Plus resistance members had some young names such as Marcel Pinte Who died aged 6 in 1944. Maybe some of them will still be alive by 2045 or so

[Sir Creep 7,015]

6 hours ago, roaming_comrade said:

Well the last WW1 Veteran died in 2011/12 (depending on who you count), 93/94 years after the war ended so things will only be reaching their end by 2040.

You got four likes?  I discussed this a few years back and you’re overestimating it at least five years. Early 2030s unless you think 10-year olds were fighting in the war for your side.

[Ulitzer95 11,089]

1 minute ago, Sir Creep said:

You got four likes?  I discussed this a few years back and you’re overestimating it at least five years. Early 2030s unless you think 10-year olds were fighting in the war for your side.

You’re such an idiot it’s unreal.

 

There are WWII vets born 1928, 1929, 1930. They were 15–17 when they served. There will be people alive who are in their 110s in the 2040s who served. Guaranteed. 

[roaming_comrade 454]

8 hours ago, Sir Creep said:

You got four likes?  I discussed this a few years back and you’re overestimating it at least five years. Early 2030s unless you think 10-year olds were fighting in the war for your side.

You can see where I'm from, right 

[arghton 6,124]

On 30/12/2022 at 13:37, Sinbabad said:

I believe we can say all the Flying Tigers are dead. Frank Losonsky was the last American and died in 2020. If there’s a survivor, he would be a Chinese pilot. But he would be over 100 years old, so I highly doubt it.

Apparently, somehow, there's still atleast two Americans:

Harry Moyer, 103

Mel McMullen, 98

 

And...these two are on a China tour:

 

Harry Moyer seems incredibly sprightly for 103.

[Tango854 207]

19 hours ago, Sir Creep said:

You got four likes?  I discussed this a few years back and you’re overestimating it at least five years. Early 2030s unless you think 10-year olds were fighting in the war for your side.

Did you just not know about the existence of child soldiers?

[Sinbabad 830]

1 hour ago, arghton said:

Apparently, somehow, there's still atleast two Americans:

Harry Moyer, 103

Mel McMullen, 98

 

And...these two are on a China tour:

Where’s Mel McMullen on the video ? Here’s another article on the subject. It says that Moyer and McMullen are "among the few surviving members" so there could be others survivors…

[The Immortal 530]

On 08/10/2023 at 21:57, TheSpinosaurus said:

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.

 

Well, we're now down to (possibly) 4 as Horace Hamilton died this Sunday.

[The Old Crem 3,181]

Apparently only 12 WW2 veterans are either marching today at the cenotaph or left from a large division. That’s very few. Won’t be long till none are.