Last WWI doughboy dies
Buckles in 1917
Today’s Dinner Topic probably isn’t one you’re already hearing about because it’s hardly front page news, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t an important AND interesting topic. This past Sunday, the last survivor of World War I died at the amazing age of 110.
The last of the World War I doughboys, Frank W. Buckles lived his life in West Virginia many decades after driving an Army ambulance in France in 1918.1 Regardless of one’s feelings about war and politics, Buckles was the last human historical connection for America and World War I. If nothing else, the death of Mr. Buckles gives everyone a reason to revisit a little history and he now provides us with an interesting fact to tell our friends and family.
Speaking of interesting facts, the term “doughboy” is often used to describe military personnel, primarily infantry in World War I, but few people are aware of the term’s origins. That’s because, despite many theories, the origination of “doughboy” can’t be proven. It’s simply a term that stuck with the American public until terms like G.I. took over in World War II. Here’s what is known:
- The term was used as far back as the Mexican-American War in 1846-47.
- Some theories involve the Army’s cooking of its rations (doughy rice, etc.), the large round buttons on the uniforms, and the uniform’s “doughie” appearance when a button uniform polish called pipe clay got wet and muddy.
According to WorldWar1.com, the most sensible theory is the simplest: when the infantry trudged through the deserts of northern Mexico, they stirred up plenty of dust and clay, resulting in a powdery, dusty appearance after days in the Mexican desert. Hence, the look could be considered a “doughboy” like appearance. This was known as the Adobe Theory.2
There is no hard and fast proof for any of the theories above, so feel free to form your own opinion, and at least now when someone asks “What does ‘doughboy’ mean?,” you can give them several possibilities and bring up Buckles as well!
Read on:
NYTimes.com – Frank Buckles, Last World War I Doughboy, Is Dead at 110
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