Harry Richard Landis
Encyclopedia
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.
and Palmyra
, where he grew up on the family farm. He was the seventh of eight children.
Landis joined the United States Army
in October 1918, and joined the Student Army Training Corps while attending Central Methodist University
in Missouri
. He did not complete basic training due to the war ending less than a month later. His experience of mopping the floor at an army hospital included exposure to the Spanish flu
, which was actually the leading cause of death worldwide in the year 1918, killing about 75 million people. Landis was discharged in December 1918, one month after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
.
Attempting to try to enlist in World War II
after the Attack on Pearl Harbor
in 1941, he was rejected as "too old". Landis retired in 1959. He and his wife Eleanor, both died at Sun City Center in 2008. Harry died on 4 February, and Eleanor on 8 December aged 101.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veterans. The final one was Frank Buckles
Frank Buckles
Frank Woodruff Buckles was the last surviving American veteran of World War I. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1917 and served with a detachment from Fort Riley, driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in Europe.During World War II, he was captured by Japanese forces...
, who died in 2011. John Babcock
John Babcock
John Henry Foster "Jack" Babcock was, at age 109, the last known surviving veteran of the Canadian military to have served in the First World War and, after the death of Harry Patch, was the conflict's oldest surviving veteran...
, a naturalized American, served in the Canadian Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
during the war, and also survived Landis.
Biography
Landis was born to Jason and Alice Landis in Miller Township, Marion County, Missouri, between HannibalHannibal, Missouri
Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately northwest of St. Louis. According to the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 17,606...
and Palmyra
Palmyra, Missouri
Palmyra is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,467 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area.- Geography :Palmyra is located at...
, where he grew up on the family farm. He was the seventh of eight children.
Landis joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in October 1918, and joined the Student Army Training Corps while attending Central Methodist University
Central Methodist University
Central Methodist University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Fayette, Missouri. CMU is an accredited four year institution of higher education and offers masters, bachelors, and associates degrees...
in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He did not complete basic training due to the war ending less than a month later. His experience of mopping the floor at an army hospital included exposure to the Spanish flu
Spanish flu
The 1918 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus . It was an unusually severe and deadly pandemic that spread across the world. Historical and epidemiological data are inadequate to identify the geographic origin...
, which was actually the leading cause of death worldwide in the year 1918, killing about 75 million people. Landis was discharged in December 1918, one month after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
.
Attempting to try to enlist in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
after the Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
in 1941, he was rejected as "too old". Landis retired in 1959. He and his wife Eleanor, both died at Sun City Center in 2008. Harry died on 4 February, and Eleanor on 8 December aged 101.
See also
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2008