Albert Wagner | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1899 North Lincoln County, Kansas |
| Died | January 20, 2007 (aged 107) Smith Center, Kansas |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | Marines |
| Unit | USMC AEF 2nd Army Division 6th Marine Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Spouse(s) | Lillie |
| Children | 4 |
Albert Frederick 'Jud' Wagner (September 5, 1899 - January 20, 2007) was, at age 107, the last surviving Marine veteran from America to serve during the First World War.
Albert Frederick "Jud" Wagner was born in North Lincoln County, Kansas on September 5, 1899. In 1905 the family moved to Harlan, Kansas after losing their father. In 1916, at age 17, he joined the United States Marine Corps. After completing boot camp, Wagner was shipped to France in October 1918. He served in the Army of Occupation after the armistice. After the war, Wagner stayed in the Marine Corps until he was discharged in 1919. After his discharge, Wagner returned to Smith County. In October 2002, he received the French Legion of Honour. He was also honored with 30 miles of U.S. Highway 36 through Smith County, which was dedicated as World War I Veterans Highway.
Wagner and his wife Lillie managed the Smith County Poor Farm from 1930 to 1957. They had four children. They moved to town in 1957 and purchased one of the Lustron homes in Smith Center from the Martyn family. Wagner died in Smith Center, Kansas on January 20, 2007, at age 107. His funeral took place five days later on January 25, 2007.
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after April 5, 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, which took the form of a heart made of purple cloth, the Purple Heart is the oldest military award still given to U.S. military members – the only earlier award being the obsolete Fidelity Medallion. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York.
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to distinguish him from his British counterpart Kenneth J. Alford. Among his best-known marches are "The Stars and Stripes Forever", "Semper Fidelis", "The Liberty Bell", "The Thunderer", and "The Washington Post".
Leavenworth is the county seat and largest city of Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 37,351. It is located on the west bank of the Missouri River. The site of Fort Leavenworth, built in 1827, the city became known in American history for its role as a key supply base in the settlement of the American West. During the American Civil War, many volunteers joined the Union Army from Leavenworth. The city has been notable as the location of several prisons, particularly the United States Disciplinary Barracks and United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth.
Smith Center is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,665.
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This is an incomplete list of the last surviving veterans of American wars. The last surviving veteran of any particular war, upon their death, marks the end of a historic era. Exactly who is the last surviving veteran is often an issue of contention, especially with records from long-ago wars. The "last man standing" was often very young at the time of enlistment and in many cases had lied about his age to gain entry into the service, which confuses matters further.
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Richard Keith Sorenson was a United States Marine who, as a private, received the Medal of Honor during World War II for his heroism during the Marine landing on Kwajalein Atoll on the night of February 1–2, 1944. He threw himself on an exploding Japanese grenade that was part of US munitions captured during the Battle of Bataan, to save the lives of five fellow Marines. Although fragments of the grenade ripped through his thighs, hips, right arm and right leg, he survived the action. Of the 27 Marines who similarly threw themselves on grenades to save the lives of their fellow Marines during World War II, Sorenson was one of only four who lived. Fellow Medal of Honor recipients Richard E. Bush, Jacklyn H. Lucas and Carlton R. Rouh were the other three survivors.
Bruno Albert Forsterer was a U.S. Marine Sergeant who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Second Samoan Civil War for "distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at Samoa, Philippine Islands, April 1, 1899." His Medal of Honor was awarded by President Theodore Roosevelt, by General Order No 55, dated July 19, 1901.
Edward Albert Ostermann was a United States Marine Corps major general who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the U.S. occupation of Haiti.
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Page Henry Belcher was an American Republican politician and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.
Harry Richard Landis was, at age 108, the older of the last two American First World War veterans. The final one was Frank Buckles, who died in 2011. John Babcock, a naturalized American, served in the Canadian Army during the war, and also survived Landis.
Harry Lewis MacNeal was a United States Marine who was a recipient of America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba during the Spanish–American War. He was one of fifteen Marines, all enlisted men, to receive the Medal of Honor during the war, and the only Marine Corps recipient for this particular battle.
Chester Nez was an American veteran of World War II. He was the last surviving original Navajo code talker who served in the United States Marine Corps during the war.
Merle Egan Anderson was a member of the United States Army Signal Corps' Female Telephone Operators Unit during World War I. She is one of the first 447 female veterans of the U.S. Army. She is credited for persisting in the effort to gain the Operators Unit veterans' status, which was eventually signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1977.
Frederick S. Strong was a career officer in the United States Army. He attained the rank of major general, and was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, Spanish–American War, and World War I. Strong was best known for his command of the Hawaiian Department from 1916 to 1917 and the 40th Division during World War I.
