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While all of us know Albert Woolson was the last known surviving Union Veteran, it was James A. Hard who was credited with being the last surviving Union Combat Veteran. Here is a link to his obituary. These were some tough old gentleman. He passed approximately two months after I was born.
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[COLOR=Blue][SIZE=2][FONT=Book Antiqua]Ken Raia[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR] -
Re: Last Living Union Combat Veteran
Really cool! Thanks for sharing this. I would have given anything to have got to spend a day with him and pick his brain about the old days in the army.[FONT="Georgia"][SIZE="5"]Eric Davis
Handsome Company Mess
Liberty Hall Drum Corps [/SIZE][/FONT] -
Re: Last Living Union Combat Veteran
Every time I read about one of these old fellows, it feels like Caesar just walked through my living room. Thanks for sharing.Bob Muehleisen
Furious Five
Cin, O.Comment
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Re: Last Living Union Combat Veteran
Excellent read!
Note Of Sympathy
Earlier this week Woolson sent
a note of sympathy to his comrade
in arms. Hospital attendants said
Hard seemed to understand it.
As a veteran myself, it intrigues me how a few spoken words can mean volumes to a brother in arms.
Eric- Wouldn't we all. To be able to sit at the feet of someone who was actually there, what a priceless moment that would have been.I would have given anything to have got to spend a day with him and pick his brain about the old days in the army[B][U][I]Michael T. Moses[/I][/U][/B]
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Re: Last Living Union Combat Veteran
What a great story! I love the fact that he kept smoking all those years. He seemed like such a tough old guy.
It reminds me of a WWII 504th Trooper named Louis Napier who passed away recently. Toughest man I ever met! One helluva guy. He too smoked to the end of his days, and survived repeated illnesses. All the way through with the 504th, and never a scratch (if you know anything of their combat record that is nearly miraculous!).
I have spent a lot of time talking to WWII veterans, and have never grown tired of it. Hearing stories from Bastogne, Normandy, and Saipan just make me wonder what it would have been liek to talk to a Civil War veteran. Can you imagine talking one of these guys about the Cornfield at Antietam, or the Mule Shoe at Spotsylvania? Man, just to be on the other side of their eyes, and to see what they saw, even for a fleeting moment, would be worth exchanging a lifetime of study.
Dan LimbDan Limb
One of THEM!
"In the moment of action, remember the value of silence and order" -- Phormio of Athens
"Your first duty is to get a decent hat. You cannot hope to do more. You should never wish to do less"
Direct Descendent of
James M. Hergesheimer, Co. A. 20th Iowa Infantry
Capt. James G. Campbell, Co. F., 19th Illinois Infantry. Wounded at Missionary RidgeComment
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Re: Last Living Union Combat Veteran
Hard's obit asserts several Confederate veterans yet lived. I believe dives into censis records in recent years debunked each of their claims of Confederate veteran status. Woolson was almost certainly the last surviving CW veteran, the Frank Buckles of his war.David FoxComment
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Re: Last Living Union Combat Veteran
The Life Magazine site has an article which does just that. It debunks each of their claims. I was reading it last night.[COLOR=Blue][SIZE=2][FONT=Book Antiqua]Ken Raia[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]Comment
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