World War II Veterans

[diego 1,875]

On 07/12/2023 at 11:11, Alex B said:

Živan Popović [Yugoslav Partisans].

(1917-)

Zivan Popovic died

Born and died in Latvica, Arilje

Umro najstariji Srbin: Deka Živan nas napustio u 107. godini, živeo sam a imao više od 40 potomaka - Telegraf.rs

Was the oldest known living man from Serbia at the time of his death, now that person becomes Zivorad Markovic, born on 9 Oct 1919 and living in Belgrade

[Ulitzer95 11,310]

On 22/12/2022 at 00:47, Ulitzer95 said:

Gabriel Kinney dead at 101.

Russell Hamler, 98, is now the last of the Merrill's Marauders.

Russell Hamler dead at 99.

 

No more Merrill’s Marauders.

[alt obits guy 3,111]

Tom Hennessy, a London, Ontario World War II veteran who completed a 'Walk of Gratitude' in 2022, whereby he covered 100 miles in support of younger veterans in need, has died. He was 101. Hennessy served as spitfire fighter pilot in multiple allied campaigns.

 

https://london.ctvnews.ca/london-world-war-ii-veteran-has-passed-away-1.6733803

[drol 10,184]

Pietro Omodeo, El Alamein veteran and prominent Italian biologist, dead at 104.

[alt obits guy 3,111]

On 07/12/2023 at 09:11, Alex B said:

Here's an updated list as of December 2023:
 

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• Report post
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Posted December 7, 2023 (edited)

On 06/12/2023 at 15:55, arghton said:

Huang Decheng, Taiwanese WWII veteran and likely oldest man in Taiwan, dead at 110 from fall complications.

 

Jack Jennings.

[Last living British POW of the Thai/Burma Death Railway]

(1919-)

 

 

 

 

(

Jack Jennings has died at the age of 104: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-68049226

[Whitehouse 827]

Quite significant one. The last known survivor who worked on the Birma Railway, Jack Jennings dead at 104.

[alt obits guy 3,111]

1 hour ago, Whitehouse said:

Quite significant one. The last known survivor who worked on the Birma Railway, Jack Jennings dead at 104.

[arghton 6,165]

On 27/11/2022 at 20:23, Ulitzer95 said:

USA
*there are 5 living former Governors who served – Al Quie (b. 1923), Jimmy Carter (b. 1924), Ted Schwinden (b. 1925), Daniel Evans (b. 1925), George Ariyoshi (b. 1926), George Nigh (b. 1927) and Winfield Dunn (b. 1927).
*there are no living former justices of the Supreme Court who served following the death of John Paul Stevens in 2019.

Winfield Dunn failed to attend the Winfield Dunn dinner in December. He looked very frail last year in January and also has a very long history of heart problems, another one who's had a pig heart valve surgery. It seems quite a miracle he's made it to 96. Ariyoshi also seems to be in declining health, he's been quite frail for the last five years and I can't find anything on him since late 2022.

 

The last living US governor to have served in WWII will probably be either Dan Evans (he looked frail in those images from 2020 you'll see if you google his name, but looks amazing for his age here, from October) or George Nigh who walks with a cane now but otherwise looks fine.

[drol 10,184]

Winfield Dunn was on my radar as he was diagnosed with a faulty valve in his 20s (just like yours truly) and did not get surgery until he was 84. I think he has now exceeded every expectation.

[Hurri Khan 31]

General Jaakko Valtanen died at the age of 98 on January 17. He took part in the Winter War as a 15-year old volunteer, serving as a runner (carrying messages) and radio operator. During the Continuation War, he graduated from the Reserve Officer School and served as a fire control officer in the coast artillery. In 1942, he was sent on a mission to Estonia, then occupied by the Germans. The conditions there were horrifying, and he heard stories unknown to the public in Finland. For instance, he met a young German soldier, who in Latvia had been ordered to shoot Jews.

Valtanen continued his military career after the war, and was Chief of Defence the Finnish Defence Forces from 1983 to 1990.

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

[drol 10,184]

Just now, Hurri Khan said:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Freservilainen.fi%2Fpuolustusvoimien-entinen-komentaja-kenraali-jaakko-valtanen-on-kuollut%2F&psig=AOvVaw1Ws7Uf5jkT-cIzDGJprMB8&ust=1706710820029000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCMDk4tmnhYQDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

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

Are you still using Ask Jeeves as a search engine?

[Sir Creep 7,025]

On 30/01/2024 at 09:23, drol said:

Are you still using Ask Jeeves as a search engine?

Funny you mention that.  I scanned the Web a few months back  and discovered that a few oldies still exist. Lycos, Dogpile, Ask Jeeves (now Ask.com), Excite, to name a few.  Ixquick is now Fastsearch.  

[chel 316]

103-year-old war veteran, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences Valentin Grigoriev died on Monday night in the Moscow region.

 

ru.wiki mk.ru

 

photo from the anniversary

[YoungWillz 19,344]

On 07/12/2023 at 14:11, Alex B said:

Ervín Hoida.

[Last surviving Czechoslovak veteran of the Battle of France]

(1918-)

Ervin Hoida reportedly dead: 

 

[drol 10,184]

On 08/12/2023 at 09:00, The Immortal said:

So December 7th has happened and I do have some Pearl Harbor Survivor updates for you.

 

 

I can also confirm Sterling Cale is still alive. 

Sterling Cale (102)

Sterling Cale dead at 102.

[YoungWillz 19,344]

Just now, drol said:

On 08/12/2023 at 08:00, The Immortal said:

So December 7th has happened and I do have some Pearl Harbor Survivor updates for you.

 

 

I can also confirm Sterling Cale is still alive. 

Sterling Cale (102)

Sterling Cale dead at 102.

I'm gonna ask The Immortal if there is a possibility they could repeat my DDP entries to confirm all but Jonnie Irwin are still alive. 

 

Then they will all be gone by summer. 

[The Immortal 542]

On 17/05/2023 at 12:55, The Immortal said:

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

 

Dead. https://www.fox5vegas.com/video/2024/02/17/wwii-veteran-member-all-women-all-black-6888-battalion-remembered-las-vegas-memorial/

[drol 10,184]

On 18/02/2019 at 14:23, drol said:

Claimant Carl Muscarello is still alive at 93. The last one I think.

Carl Muscarello dead at 96.

 

Claimed to be the sailor in V-J Day in Times Square.

[Hurri Khan 31]

Rear Admiral Guy Richmond Griffiths AO, DSO, DSC, has died at the age of 101. Last Australian survivor of the sinking of HMS Repulse, veteran from the battles of Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf,  and Surigao Strait.
https://navalinstitute.com.au/obituary-radm-guy-griffiths/
 

 

[Ulitzer95 11,310]

Telegraph obit for Squadron Leader Cecil "Boz" Parsons, aged 105, Aussie "flying coffin" pilot in the RAAF who flew heavy bombers over Berlin and Dunkirk. Awarded the DFC. Was still flying aircrafts until 94.

Survived by his wife of 77 years and all three of their children (exactly what you want to hear in an obituary for someone that age).
 

 

[The Watcher 298]

2 hours ago, Ulitzer95 said:

Telegraph obit for Squadron Leader Cecil "Boz" Parsons, aged 105, Aussie "flying coffin" pilot in the RAAF who flew heavy bombers over Berlin and Dunkirk. Awarded the DFC. Was still flying aircrafts until 94.

Survived by his wife of 77 years and all three of their children (exactly what you want to hear in an obituary for someone that age).
 

 

Good to hear that all his children are still alive. However the oldest ever person to have a living parent appears to be Willie Rogers who was 97 years & 109 days (he died 6 days before he was 100) when his mother Bettie Wilson (1890-2006) died.

[YoungWillz 19,344]

On 16/05/2023 at 10:11, maryportfuncity said:

79th anniversary of the Dambusters raid today led to Today on Radio four talking to 100 year old John Bell, last survivor of bomber command in action and sometime member of the squadron who blew the dams. Sounded mentally alert, with a reassuring gravelly tone to his voice that sounded very much like an idling Rolls Royce Merlin Engine on the wing of a Lancaster, or summat. 

 

 

 

 

John Bell reportedly dead: 

 

[maryportfuncity 10,043]

The last few in general are falling but the last of "The Few" fighter pilots John Hemingway is hanging in there - 105 in July. 

 

Oh aye, and sitting on my HPDP team this year, not that he appears to give a shit about that.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hemingway_(RAF_officer)

[alt obits guy 3,111]

Dick Higgins, a Navy radioman and one of the few remaining Pearl Harbor survivors, has died. He was 102. Higgins' amphibious plane was destroyed in the attack.

 

With Higgins’ death, only 22 veterans of the attack are known to be living, according to Kathleen Farley, the California chapter president with Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, who has maintained the tally for years.

 

https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2024-03-19/higgins-pearl-harbor-survivor-obituary-13368648.html

[Ulitzer95 11,310]

John Cruickshank VC (wiki) de... delightfully smiles as he approaches his 104th birthday in May and clocks up another medal.

Given the Air Efficiency Award at his home in Aberdeen last week. Apparently it was an oversight as he should have received the medal 75 years ago! 

Daily Record coverage.

Not the best news for the 7 DDP teams that picked him this year, as he looks like he could comfortably see 2025. It's very likely he's also now in the top 5 oldest living men in Scotland at this point.