Florence Green-RIP

Two weeks shy of her 111 birthday, Florence Green, who was 17 when she entered the Woman's Royal Air Force, died in her sleep Saturday. She was believed to have been the last surviving World War 1 veteran.

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World War I The end of an era

via AP

There has been a rash of WWI veteran news lately.

Two weeks ago, Florence Green, the sole surviving female WWI veteran turned 110. She enlisted in the Womans Royal Air Force in the summer of 1918, serving a variety of jobs in the military from mechanic to clerk to waitress. She lives with her 89 year old daughter in Norfolk.

Last week, the sole surviving American veteran, Frank Buckles died, a month after his 110th birthday. Entering the Army, at 16 after lying about his age, in April 1917. After the war he entered the shipping industry working for White Star Lines. In 1941, while in the Philippines on business, he was captured by the Japanese, and served 3 years as a POW.

Today marks the 110th birthday of the last WWI combatant, Claude Choales. Living in Australia since 1926, Claude joined the Royal Navy after lying about his age to enlist. Happy Birthday Mr. Choales.

The last Axis veteran is believed to have been Franz Kuenstler of the Austro-Hungarian Empire who died in 2008.

God bless them all.

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