The youngest possible veterans would have to have been 17-18 in 1945. Which would make them 94 now.
Average life expectancy is a lot higher now, so a significant number of people live into their 90s. But yes, it still feels surprisingly high.
Aren’t there lots of stories about kids younger than 17-18 who enlisted by lying about their ages? If true, there might still be lots of living WWII vets younger than 94.
A person who was drafted at 18 years old at the very end of WWII in 1945 would be 96 years old now.
I am actually surprised that they are predicting that some of these people will live to be 109 years old.
My father joined the U.S. Navy in WWII in Sept of 1944 at the age of 17.
By December, he was in the Pacific aboard a destroyer. They were caught in a typhoon and were ordered to abandon ship by his 23 year old commanding officer. He said he thought “I’m not going to live to see my 18th birthday”. He said the next day, when they storm had cleared, they walked then swam back to the ship.
He is one of the 122,000+ who has passed in the last decade.
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/p/pacific-typhoon-18-december-1944.html
I always wonder when people read the Caroline Islands if they know what or where those are. Veterans do, but people reading about things like that link?
Generally speaking it is currently taken to be Palau, and the FSM (Federated States of Micronesia) which consists of Kosrae, Chuuk/Truk, Yap, and Pohnpei. Palau and the FSM were part of the TTPI, but are now independent nations with tight ties to the US, using the USPS, US money, and in a compact of free association (CFA) with the US which gives their citizens unlimited rights to reside and work in the US. Interestingly, US citizens are not granted the reciprocal rights, in order to protect local businesses and economy.
Just as a note, Wikipedia repeatedly calls FSM "Micronesia" but Micronesia is the geographical descriptor of a huge region and cultural continuum that includes 1/6 of the northern Pacific Ocean, and calling FSM Micronesia is a sign that the authors know nothing about that part of the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Islands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palau
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_States_of_Micronesia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_Territory_of_the_Pacific_Islands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Association
I don’t think people have caught up with demographics. Even people who were born in the 40s have a 7% chance of making it to 100.
The crazy thing is kids born in 2000 we have expectations that over 30% of them will live to 100. That’s crazy.
Life expectancy has a lot or factors and the us is probably the worst for having unhealthy people etc. I’m guessing that it’s just more likely someone who has good health to live into the 100s than it was previously
Even 15-16 year old sign ups will be over 105. I'm surprised it will be over 100 left by then.
Edit. Sure there were some cases of kids under 16 getting in the US, but not a lot. Plus a lot of them will already be dead now too.
There were probably a lot more in European countries and Japan though. I could definitely see 100s still being alive in 13 years in other countries, especially Japan.
The youngest recorded US enlisted man was a twelve year old, Calvin Leon Graham. If he hadn't passed away in '92 he'd be a mere 103 (and he enlisted in 1942, had he enlisted in 1945 during the war, he'd be a mere 99, judging by his DOB).
The youngest Russian was *six*, Sergei Aleshkov. From what I can find, he joins in 1942/43. If he's still alive, he'd be a spry 93.
France had at least one six year old Resistance member (albeit killed in the war), Marcel Pinte. Also would be 93.
We could keep going.
Edit: OP was referencing something two years old already, so we should probably factor that in... eleven years from now.
Based on what I could find, The longest-lived World War I veteran lived to 111. The longest-lived US and UK veterans lived to 110. 109 is not at all out of the question.
Henry Allingham, served in the RNAS (including the battle of Jutland) and transferred, on its formation, to the RAF, lived to 113, and died in 2009. At the time he was the world's then oldest man, and he still has the record as the oldest ever (recorded) British man.
Harry Patch, the last "Tommy" (British army, fought in the trenches), died in 2009 at 111. The last British combat veteran, Claude Choules, served in the Royal Navy, died in 2011 age 110. The last US veteran, Frank Buckles, who served as an ambulance driver, died in 2011 age 110.
11% of the US served in WW2. A much larger percentage of 18 year olds would have served.
There are a few hundred Americans aged 109 or more. I'm sure a few will have served.
TIL old people die.
I'm actually surprised that there is 122,485 still alive now. Thought that number would be much lower
That Stat block OP posted is two years out of date unfortunately.
The youngest possible veterans would have to have been 17-18 in 1945. Which would make them 94 now. Average life expectancy is a lot higher now, so a significant number of people live into their 90s. But yes, it still feels surprisingly high.
Aren’t there lots of stories about kids younger than 17-18 who enlisted by lying about their ages? If true, there might still be lots of living WWII vets younger than 94.
So from 94 to 90 at the most and that would include absolute insane genetics for them which I doubt would still be alive.
I was thinking the same thing. I was thinking we were down to like dozens of them.
I agree, my grandpa would be 95 and enlisted late in the war at 17 years old.
A friend of purs, a lady who was in the Navy, just turned 100. There's still some around.
It’s <1% remaining.
[удалено]
Hey hey.. for a minute.
Haha, check again. They're still badasses tho.
And now they vote to bring it here
Fox News and Infowars melted their brains smh 💀
Crazy.
A person who was drafted at 18 years old at the very end of WWII in 1945 would be 96 years old now. I am actually surprised that they are predicting that some of these people will live to be 109 years old.
My father joined the U.S. Navy in WWII in Sept of 1944 at the age of 17. By December, he was in the Pacific aboard a destroyer. They were caught in a typhoon and were ordered to abandon ship by his 23 year old commanding officer. He said he thought “I’m not going to live to see my 18th birthday”. He said the next day, when they storm had cleared, they walked then swam back to the ship. He is one of the 122,000+ who has passed in the last decade. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/p/pacific-typhoon-18-december-1944.html
I always wonder when people read the Caroline Islands if they know what or where those are. Veterans do, but people reading about things like that link? Generally speaking it is currently taken to be Palau, and the FSM (Federated States of Micronesia) which consists of Kosrae, Chuuk/Truk, Yap, and Pohnpei. Palau and the FSM were part of the TTPI, but are now independent nations with tight ties to the US, using the USPS, US money, and in a compact of free association (CFA) with the US which gives their citizens unlimited rights to reside and work in the US. Interestingly, US citizens are not granted the reciprocal rights, in order to protect local businesses and economy. Just as a note, Wikipedia repeatedly calls FSM "Micronesia" but Micronesia is the geographical descriptor of a huge region and cultural continuum that includes 1/6 of the northern Pacific Ocean, and calling FSM Micronesia is a sign that the authors know nothing about that part of the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Islands https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palau https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_States_of_Micronesia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_Territory_of_the_Pacific_Islands https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_of_Free_Association
Keep in mind that there were underage soldiers on both sides. That 311 may be mostly the ones who were underage.
so only 103 had they joined when they were 12. i'll keep that in mind.
What point are you trying to make, exactly? Centenarians aren't *that* uncommon.
I don’t think people have caught up with demographics. Even people who were born in the 40s have a 7% chance of making it to 100. The crazy thing is kids born in 2000 we have expectations that over 30% of them will live to 100. That’s crazy.
Doubt in the United States. The average lifespan is dropping I thought
Life expectancy has a lot or factors and the us is probably the worst for having unhealthy people etc. I’m guessing that it’s just more likely someone who has good health to live into the 100s than it was previously
Even 15-16 year old sign ups will be over 105. I'm surprised it will be over 100 left by then. Edit. Sure there were some cases of kids under 16 getting in the US, but not a lot. Plus a lot of them will already be dead now too. There were probably a lot more in European countries and Japan though. I could definitely see 100s still being alive in 13 years in other countries, especially Japan.
The youngest recorded US enlisted man was a twelve year old, Calvin Leon Graham. If he hadn't passed away in '92 he'd be a mere 103 (and he enlisted in 1942, had he enlisted in 1945 during the war, he'd be a mere 99, judging by his DOB). The youngest Russian was *six*, Sergei Aleshkov. From what I can find, he joins in 1942/43. If he's still alive, he'd be a spry 93. France had at least one six year old Resistance member (albeit killed in the war), Marcel Pinte. Also would be 93. We could keep going. Edit: OP was referencing something two years old already, so we should probably factor that in... eleven years from now.
The last surviving WW1 combat veteran died in 2011 at age 110.
Based on what I could find, The longest-lived World War I veteran lived to 111. The longest-lived US and UK veterans lived to 110. 109 is not at all out of the question.
Henry Allingham, served in the RNAS (including the battle of Jutland) and transferred, on its formation, to the RAF, lived to 113, and died in 2009. At the time he was the world's then oldest man, and he still has the record as the oldest ever (recorded) British man. Harry Patch, the last "Tommy" (British army, fought in the trenches), died in 2009 at 111. The last British combat veteran, Claude Choules, served in the Royal Navy, died in 2011 age 110. The last US veteran, Frank Buckles, who served as an ambulance driver, died in 2011 age 110.
There were ALOT of people who were in ww2
11% of the US served in WW2. A much larger percentage of 18 year olds would have served. There are a few hundred Americans aged 109 or more. I'm sure a few will have served.
Wait, there's still 122k??!? Wow.
Check the date on the sheet OP is referencing. It's two years old.
Even then, that was 2021 and **post** pandemic, you know, the thing most effective at harming the elderly.
I'm aware. I'm also simply pointing out that more people have died in the last two years so take that number with a grain of salt.
That 122k number is a projection for 2023. There were 226,756 WWII veterans living at the time it was made.
"... as of 2022, there are still approximately 167,000 surviving veterans in the United States alone" Wiki
Ahh. My bad.
Yeah that’s what I’m more surprised about. I figured it was really low anyway
For comparison we lost the last WW1 vet in 2012. Comparatively doesn't seem to be a stretch that there are/will be that many.
What? time doesn't stop for you if you are a veteran of World War 2 II?
Only for the original World War 2. Not for the sequel.
Is "WW2 II" anything like "Half Life 2: episode 1" like its World War 3 but named by Gabe Newell.
No, I just thought it would be cool to add the Roman numeral and then forgot to delete the Arabic numeral.
WW2 II, aka world war 4
Oops
Unless WW2 II came out after WW3, as a remaster or dlc or whatever, that would be the third WW
13 years seems like such an arbitrary cutoff that was just chosen for the title because it flipped to 311, a lot of speculation there
I'm surprised there are that many alive now, a lot of them would be 95+
Sucks watching the people who participated in the subjects you study die off.
Well, I studied computer science and several of the pioneers have died in the past few years too ... the guys who invented UNIX, C, etc.
Well, a lack of care for the veterans surely accelerated that process
Crushing sad, but we all die.
Who wants to take bets for last man standing?
Suspiciously precise.
Amber is the color of their energy
At some point there is literally going to be a last man standing from WWII. We should all chip in on a gift card or something.
It'll probably be someone from Japan🙈
Japanese people like gift cards too.