John Babcock, 109

Story and Photos by Phil Raschke

It was with sad heart that the Mount Rainier Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) learned their friend World War I veteran John “Jack” Babcock passed away February 18 at his home in Spokane, WA. Jack developed a case of came pneumonia a few days earlier and was not able to recover. However, the morning he passed away he awoke in good spirits and enjoyed his favorite breakfast…oatmeal and a glass of buttermilk.

Jack would have turned 110 this coming July 23. He was born on a small farm in Ontario, Canada and enlisted in the Canadian Army at the age of 15 by lying about his age. After training in Nova Scotia, he sailed through U-Boat infested waters to Europe and became famous for being the “last surviving veteran of the more than 620,000 Canadians who served in WW I”. After the war, Jack became a U.S. Citizen and served in the American Army with duty at Camp Lewis, WA during the early 1920’s.

Jack’s wife Dot reported that several hundred folks attended the “Celebration of Life” memorial services to include the Canadian Minister of Veterans Affairs plus pipers and soldiers from the Canadian military. A band played two of Jack’s favorite songs…”Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Oh Canada”. Jack’s body has been cremated and plans are underway for his internment at Medical Lake Veterans Cemetery. The Canadian government had earlier offered Jack a State Funeral, but he respectfully declined the offer.

“The passing of Mr. Babcock marks the end of an era,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a tribute to Jack. “His family mourns the passing of a great man. Canada mourns the passing of the generation that asserted our independence on the world stage and established our international reputation as an unwavering champion of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

We know Jack is now standing tall with the other members of his 146th Overseas Battalion and the rest of the 620,000 Canadians who served in WW I. He may even be coaching the vets on how to recite the alphabet backwards or tap out Morse Code…favor sports for him.

All who knew Jack will truly miss him.

Note: Only one American WW I veteran still survives. His name is Frank Buckles and he lives in West Virginia.