Last surviving United States war veterans

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates This is an incomplete list of the last surviving veterans of American wars. 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.

17th century

American Indian Wars (1622–1774)

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• Samuel Murphy (1758–1851) – Virginia colonists. Last participant of Lord Dunmore's War.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Noah Johnson (1698–1798) – New England colonists. Last participant of Lovewell's War.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

18th century

French and Indian War (1754–1763)

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• John Owen (1741–1843) – British Army. Enlisted in 1758. Also fought in the Revolutionary War.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Jonathan Benjamin (1738–1841) – British Army. Also fought in the Revolutionary War.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)

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A photograph of Daniel Frederick Bakeman (1759–1869). Though not mentioned in the 1864 book The Last Men of the Revolution, he was the last surviving veteran of the American Revolution to have been granted a pension.

• Daniel Frederick Bakeman (1759–1869) – Continental Army. Last veteran drawing a pension awarded by Congress; granted a pension in 1867 even though he could not prove his service.<ref>Template:Cite book(quoting the Annual Report of the Commissioner of Pensions for 1874: "With the death of Daniel T. Bakeman, of Freedom, Cattaraugus County, N.Y., April 5, 1869, the last of the pensioned soldiers of the Revolution passed away.")</ref>
• John Gray (1764–1868) – Continental Army. Last verifiable veteran. Served at Yorktown. Six month service period was too short to qualify for pension.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Granted a pension in 1867.
• James Robinson (1753–1868) – Continental Army. Last African American veteran. Served at Yorktown and Brandywine. Awarded Gold Medal of Valor.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Lemuel Cook (1759–1866) – Continental Army. Last cavalryman. Served with the 2nd Light Dragoons.
• Elijah Churchill (1755–1841) – Continental Army. Last Badge of Military Merit recipient.
• William Richardson (1765–1873) – Claimed to have served in an Ohio militia and in a Continental Line.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

American Indian Wars (1775–1924)

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• Frederick Fraske (1872–1973) – U.S. Army. Last Army veteran.<ref>"LAST VET OF INDIAN WARS DIES AT AGE 101". Chicago Tribune. June 17, 1973.</ref>
• John Daw (1870–1965) – U.S. Army. Last Indian Scout.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Dewey Beard (1857–1955) – Lakota Tribe. Last Native American participant of the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Also survived Wounded Knee.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• John Winchell Cullen (1838–1939) – U.S. Army. Fought in the Yakima War.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Henry L. Riggs (1812–1911) – U.S. Army. Served in the Black Hawk War.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Shays's Rebellion (1786–1787)

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• David Whitney (1767–1867) – Massachusetts State Militia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Whiskey Rebellion (1791–1794)

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• Michael Edwards (1767?–1876) – Pennsylvania State Militia.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

19th century

War of 1812 (1812–1815)

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File:Hiram Cronk.jpg

Hiram Cronk (1800–1905), the last surviving veteran of the War of 1812.

• Hiram Cronk (1800–1905) – New York Militia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• James Hooper Jr. (1804–1898) – U.S. Navy. Served on the schooner Template:Ship during the Battle of Baltimore.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Aaron Stafford (1787–1885) – Major, New York Militia. Last surviving veteran of the War of 1812 known to have held an officer's commission. Wounded at Battle of Queenston Heights.

Toledo War (1835–1836)

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• Lewis W. Pearl (1815–1914) – Michigan State Militia. Later served in the Mexican-American War and the Civil War.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Texas Revolution (1835–1836)

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• William Physick Zuber (1820–1913) – Texian Army.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Dorr Rebellion (1841–1842)

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• Wanton Briggs (1821–1923) – Rhode Island State Militia. Last "Charterite".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bear Flag Revolt (1846)

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• John Grider (1826–1924) – California Republic Militia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Mexican–American War (1846–1848)

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Owen Thomas Edgar (1831–1929), the last surviving U.S. veteran of the Mexican–American War.

• Owen Thomas Edgar (1831–1929) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS and Template:USS.<ref>Associated Press (September 1929). "Mexican War's Last Survivor, 98, is Dead". The Dallas Morning News.</ref>
• William Fitzhugh Buckner (1828–1929) – U.S. Army. Fought at Taos.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bleeding Kansas (1854–1861)

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• Israel Adam Broadsword (1846–1952) – Free-Stater. Joined a Kansas Home Guard unit in 1859 to protect against raids. Later served in the Civil War.<ref name=Hoar1>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
• John Brown (1844–1940) – Border Ruffian. Participated in the Lawrence Massacre with Quantrill's Raiders.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

American Civil War (1861–1865)

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• Albert Henry Woolson (1850–1956) – Union Army. Last verified Union veteran.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• James Albert Hard (1843–1953) – Union Army. Last combat veteran. Served at First Bull Run, Antietam, and Chancellorsville.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Pleasant Riggs Crump (1847–1951) – Confederate Army. Last verified Confederate veteran. See Last surviving Confederate veterans.
• Alden G. Howell (1841–1947) – Confederate Army. Last commissioned Confederate officer.<ref name=Hoar1/>Template:Rp<ref name=Hoar2>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
• Henry Doll (1847–1947) – Union Navy. Last surviving Union sailor. Served on the USS Portsmouth and USS Brooklyn.<ref name="Kuchera">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• James Frederick Lyon (1843–1946) – Union Army. Last commissioned Union officer.<ref name=Hoar1/>Template:Rp
• James Burns (1845–1944) – Union Marine Corps. Last surviving Union Marine veteran. Enlisted 9 Sept 1862.<ref name="Kuchera"/>
• Samuel B. Grant (1845–1944) – Confederate Marine Corps. Last surviving Confederate Marine veteran. Served with the Marine Guard attached to the CSS Fredericksburg.<ref name="Kuchera"/>
• William Sickles (1844–1938) – Union Army. Last Medal of Honor recipient.
• Aaron Daggett (1837–1938) – Union Army. Last surviving General of the Civil War.
• Billy Rufus Stanford (1850–1937) – Confederate Navy. Last surviving Confederate sailor. Defended Columbus, Georgia during Sherman's March to the Sea with Company C of the Naval Battalion.<ref name="Kuchera"/>
• Adelbert Ames (1835–1933) – Union Army. Last surviving General of the Regular U.S. Army.
• Oliver Otis Howard (1830–1909) – Union Army. Last surviving General to have held the permanent rank of a general in the regular U.S. Army.
• John McCausland Jr. (1836–1927) – Confederate Army, Last surviving Confederate General, Held the rank of Brigadier General, famous for the ransom of Hagerstown, Maryland

Korean Expedition (1871)

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• William F. Lukes (1847–1923) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS. Last Medal of Honor recipient.

Spanish–American War (1898)

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• Jones Morgan (1882–1993) – U.S. Army. Claimed to have served in the 9th Cavalry.
• Jasper Garrison (1880–1987) – U.S. Army. Last verified veteran.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Jesse D. Langdon (1881–1975) – U.S. Army. Last member of the Rough Riders.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• John Davis (1877–1970) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS. Last Medal of Honor recipient.

Second Samoan Civil War (1898–99)

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• Bruno Albert Forsterer (1869–1957) – U.S. Marine Corps. Last Medal of Honor recipient.

Banana Wars (1898–1934)

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• Donald Leroy Truesdell (1906–1993) – U.S. Marine Corps. Served in Nicaragua. Last Medal of Honor recipient.
• Herman H. Hanneken (1893–1986) – U.S. Marine Corps. Served in Haiti. Last Medal of Honor recipient.
• George M. Lowry (1889–1981) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS at Veracruz. Last Medal of Honor recipient.
• Roswell Winans (1887–1968) – U.S. Marine Corps. Served in Dominican Republic. Last Medal of Honor recipient.

Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901)

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• Nathan E. Cook (1885–1992) – U.S. Navy.<ref name="NATHAN EDWARD COOK">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Walter Pleate (1876–1985) – U.S. Army. Also served in the Philippine–American War.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• William Seach (1877–1978) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS. Last Medal of Honor recipient.

Philippine–American War (1899–1902)

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• Nathan E. Cook (1885–1992) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NATHAN EDWARD COOK"/> Also served in Boxer Rebellion.
• Walter Pleate (1876–1985) – U.S. Army.
• John Thomas Kennedy (1885–1969) – U.S. Army. Last Medal of Honor recipient.

20th century

Border War (1910–1919)

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• Samuel Goldberg (1900–2006) – U.S. Cavalry.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

World War I (1914–1918)

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Frank Buckles (1901–2011), shown here in this recruitment photo, was the last verified American soldier to have served in World War I.

• Frank Woodruff Buckles (1901–2011) – U.S. Army. Last U.S. veteran, served with the 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Lloyd Brown (1901–2007) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS.
• Howard Ramsey (1898–2007) – U.S. Army. Last combat veteran.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Albert Wagner (1899–2007) – U.S. Marine Corps. Served in the 6th Marine Regiment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Moses Hardy (1894–2006) – U.S. Army. Last African-American veteran.
• James William Pearson (1895–1993) – Royal Air Force. Last American flying ace. Served in No. 23 Squadron RAF.
• Arthur Raymond Brooks (1895–1991) – Air Service, United States Army. Last American flying ace to serve in a U.S. unit. Served in the 22d Aero Squadron.
• Edouard Izac (1891–1990) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS and Template:USS. Last Medal of Honor recipient.
• Henry Forster (1889–1989) – Aéronautique Militaire. Last American member of the La Fayette Escadrille.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Pancho Villa Expedition (1916–1917)

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• Mark Matthews (1894–2005) – U.S. Army.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War (1918–1925)

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• Warren V. Hileman (1901–2005) – U.S. Army. Served in the 27th Infantry Regiment as part of the American Expeditionary Force Siberia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Harold Gunnes (1899–2003) – U.S. Navy. Served on Template:USS. Also attached to the 339th Infantry Regiment as part of the Polar Bear Expedition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Spanish Civil War (1936–1939)

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• Delmer Berg (1915–2016) – International Brigades. Volunteered in 1938. Served in anti-aircraft in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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World War II (1939–1945)

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Richard E. Cole (1915–2019), shown second-from-right in this 1942 photograph, was a World War II veteran and the last living participant of the Doolittle Raid.

• Lou Conter (1921–2024) – U.S. Navy. Last surviving crew member of the Template:USS.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Earl R. Fox (1919–2012) U.S. Navy.Template:Refn (1920–2011). Last active servicemember of World War II, having retired in 1999.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Warren "Red" Upton (1919–2024) U.S. Navy. Last surviving crew member of the Template:USS.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams (1923–2022) – U.S. Marine Corps. Last Medal of Honor recipient.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Refn
• Bradford Freeman (1924–2022) – U.S. Army. Last surviving member of Easy Company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Refn
• Frank S. Losonsky (1920–2020) – American Volunteer Group. Last member of the Flying Tigers. Enlisted in the USAAC in 1939. Joined the AVG in 1941.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Richard E. Cole (1915–2019) – U.S. Army Air Forces. Last participant of the Doolittle Raid (Jimmy Doolittle's co-pilot).
• Carl Kice Brown (1917–2017) – American Volunteer Group. Last pilot of the Flying Tigers. Joined in 1941.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Steve Pisanos (1919–2016) – RAF. Last pilot of the Eagle Squadrons. Joined in 1941.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Bill Bower (1917–2011) – U.S. Army Air Forces. Last pilot of Doolittle Raid.
• Lemuel R. Custis (1915–2005) – U.S. Army Air Forces – Tuskegee Airmen. Last surviving graduating member of original aviation cadet class, Class 42-C.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Korean War (1950–1953)

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• Ralph Puckett (1926–2024) – U.S. Army. Last recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in the Korean War.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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• Charles G. Cleveland (1927–2021) – U.S. Air Force. Last flying ace.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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See also

• Military history of the United States
• List of last survivors of American slavery
• List of last surviving veterans of military insurgencies and wars
• List of last surviving veterans of military operations
• List of last surviving Canadian war veterans
• List of last surviving Brazilian war veterans
• Last European veterans by war

Further reading

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