Old Soldiers Always Die Quiz | Military Matters

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. There were several contenders to the claim of last surviving Revolutionary War veteran, but the most generally accepted was Daniel F. Bakeman. When did he die? HINT-US transcontinental railroad completed.

Answer: 1869

Even though Bakeman (1759?-1869) was unable to prove his wartime service, the US Congress passed an act authorizing a Revolutionary War pension for him -about 74 years late! It seems the debate about the "real" last Revolutionary veteran continues to this day.

Amazingly, some 14 veterans of the Revolution lived long enough to be photographed for posterity.

2. Jones Morgan was a young African-American who joined the 9th US Cavalry, and served in the Spanish-American War as a hostler and cook for the famed "Rough Riders". When did this last survivor of the 1898 war die? HINT-Bill Clinton inaugurated.

Answer: 1993

Morgan (1882-1993) enlisted in 1896, at about 14 years of age (ANOTHER fraudulent enlistment!). His youth, and the lack of official documentation precluded him from any benefits. In his final years, Morgan became a celebrity, meeting General Colin Powell and George H. W. Bush. Jones Morgan is buried in Richmond VA, at Forest Lawn Cemetery. His service as a Buffalo Soldier is commemorated by a plaque on his tombstone. NOTE - the only picture I could find of Buffalo Soldier Jones Morgan looks more like Harry Truman than an African-American cavalry trooper.

Nathan E Cook was often erroneously credited with being the last surviving veteran of the "Splendid Little War." A near contemporary of Morgan, Cook joined the US Navy in 1901 (AFTER the Spanish-American conflict ended), served in the Philippine-American War, and was a legitimate member of the United Spanish War Veterans. Cook had a long, successful career in the Navy, but he was NOT a Spanish-American War vet.

3. Of the 2.2 million men serving with the Union forces during the Civil War, Albert Henry Woolson was the last to die. When? HINT-Collision between MS Stockholm and SS Andrea Doria.

Answer: 1956

Albert Woolson (1850-1956) lost his soldier father to wounds received at Shiloh. Albert joined in 1864 and served as a drummer boy with the 1st Minnesota Heavy Artillery for 11 months, but never was in combat (the last verified Union combat veteran was James Hard, who died in 1953). Woolson mustered out in September 1865, and in later years, became active in the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) veterans organization. The GAR was disbanded after his death. Woolson was the last Union veteran, and the last UNDISPUTED veteran from either side. A monument to Woolson and the GAR was later placed at Gettysburg Battlefield.

Confederate service was not well documented. After the death of the last verifiable Confederate veteran (Pleasant Riggs Crump) in 1951, about a dozen or more men claimed they were Southern veterans; all were ultimately determined to be false.

4. Forget about Benteen's and Reno's detachments. When did the last known veteran of the ACTUAL BATTLE at the Little Bighorn die? HINT-Rosa Parks refuses to give up seat on bus.

Answer: 1955

Was your first thought something like "they all died in the battle!"? Remember that every conflict has two sides. Wasu Maza (1858-1955) was a Lakota Sioux who fought at Little Bighorn. Also known as "Iron Hail" (not to be confused with "Iron Tail" - another Lakota chief), he was shot in the dreadful Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. His wife, baby, and parents were killed there, along with many other native Americans.

In later years, Iron Hail became a Roman Catholic and changed his name to Dewey Beard. He was the last known Lakota survivor of Wounded Knee and the Little Bighorn.

5. Eclipsed by the more noteworthy Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the War of 1812 is somewhat overlooked. In what year did Hiram Cronk - the "last man standing" - die? HINT-Einstein formulates "E=mc2."

Answer: 1905

Hiram Cronk (1800-1905) of New York enlisted with his father and two brothers in August 1814, and was discharged in November of the same year. for this service, he received a monthly federal pension of $12 (raised to $25 when he was about 103 years old).

In addition, New York state gave him a pension of $72/monthly. Old Hiram made out pretty well for his three months of military service - none of which was in combat.

6. The Civil War ended in 1865, but long after the last veterans were gone, their family members remained. Can you deduce the death year of the last know Union veteran's widow? HINT-Space Shuttle "Columbia" disaster.

Answer: 2003

One of the last known widows of a Union veteran was Gertrude Grubb (1909-2003). When she married John Janeway in 1927, she was 18; he was 81! I have to wonder about their honeymoon. Gertrude received a widow's benefits check until she died, in 2003.

Even more incredible - as of September 2011, a VA report shows two children of Civil War veterans receiving a $876 annual survivors pension!

7. The last surviving Mexican War veteran is also the only Navy centenarian in the quiz. Can you determine when Owen Thomas Edgar set sail on his final journey? HINT-Stock market crash heralds the Great Depression.

Answer: 1929

Edgar (1831-1929) enlisted in early 1846 as a 2nd Class Apprentice, and served about 3.5 years, on at least four US Navy ships. After his war service, he worked and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. He is buried in the Congressional Cemetery, Washington DC.

His tombstone bears the inscription "Last Survivor of Mexican War," as well as the names of his wife, son, and daughter. There seems to be absolutely NO dispute over Edgar's "last man standing" distinction.

8. World War 1 saw an unprecedented growth of the US military, to almost 2.9 million men. The last of that generation was Frank Buckles, who died soon after his 110th birthday. What was the year? HINT-rough year for bad guys: bin Laden, Gaddafi, Kim Jong-Il all dead.

Answer: 2011

Frank Woodrow Buckles (1901-2011) joined the US Army in August 1917 (at the age of 16). He served as an ambulance and motorcycle driver in France, and was honorably discharged in November 1919. While working as a shipping company agent in the Philippines in 1942, Buckles was captured by the Japanese and spent over three years in a prison camp!

Active throughout his life, Buckles was Honorary Chairman of the WW1 Memorial Foundation, a Shriner, Mason, a member of the NRA, and Sons of Confederate Veterans. He met President George W Bush and Gary Sinese. He is buried at Arlington (34 579-A), under a simple soldier's headstone, showing his name, birth and death dates, and "CPL US ARMY WORLD WAR 1."

The last male veteran of WW 1 was English/Australian Claud Choules RN. The last known WW 1 veteran worldwide was Florence Green WRAF.

9. The hunt for Pancho Villa involved about 10,000 US participants; the last known veteran of that expedition was former Buffalo Soldier Mark Matthews. When did he take his last ride? HINT-Hurricane Katrina ravages Gulf Coast.

Answer: 2005

Mark Matthews (1894?-2005) joined the Army (fraudulently) at the age of 15. He joined the 10th Cavalry Regiment - the "Buffalo Soldiers", and participated in the Mexican Expedition (as the search for Villa is now formally known). Because mounted cavalry was not needed at the front, his unit did not serve overseas in WW 1. During WW 2, Matthews was considered for training as a Tuskeegee airman, served in combat action at Saipan, and rose to the rank of first sergeant.

He retired from the Army sometime between 1947-1949.

In his later years, Matthews became a living symbol of the Buffalo Soldier, and met with Bill Clinton and Colin Powell. Mark Matthews died at 111 years of age, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery (69 4215). His is an AMAZING story; I urge you to read more about him.

10. World War 2 saw the largest military in US history - over 12 million men and women. It's a prediction only, but what year does the Department of Veteran Affairs estimate the last WW2 veteran will die? HINT-Really?

Answer: 2038

This quiz has reminded me - again - of the inexorable passage of time. The GIs are 400 fewer every day. The Pearl Harbor Survivors Association disbanded in 2011; Numerous other military, aviation, and naval veteran groups have held their final reunions. Wherever you may live in the Free World, take time to thank a WW 2 veteran. We owe them more than we can ever know. Much more information can be found on the National WW2 Memorial web page.

Source: Author goatlockerjoe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Old Soldiers Always Die Trivia Quiz

Old soldiers are said to "fade away", but someone is always the last survivor. Use your history/math skills to pick the death year for these warriors or their kin. A hint is included at the bottom of each question - if you need it! WARNING-US ORIENTED!

Questions		Choices
1. There were several contenders to the claim of last surviving Revolutionary War veteran, but the most generally accepted was Daniel F. Bakeman. When did he die? HINT-US transcontinental railroad completed.		1905
2. Jones Morgan was a young African-American who joined the 9th US Cavalry, and served in the Spanish-American War as a hostler and cook for the famed "Rough Riders". When did this last survivor of the 1898 war die? HINT-Bill Clinton inaugurated.		2003
3. Of the 2.2 million men serving with the Union forces during the Civil War, Albert Henry Woolson was the last to die. When? HINT-Collision between MS Stockholm and SS Andrea Doria.		2038
4. Forget about Benteen's and Reno's detachments. When did the last known veteran of the ACTUAL BATTLE at the Little Bighorn die? HINT-Rosa Parks refuses to give up seat on bus.		1929
5. Eclipsed by the more noteworthy Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the War of 1812 is somewhat overlooked. In what year did Hiram Cronk - the "last man standing" - die? HINT-Einstein formulates "E=mc2."		1869
6. The Civil War ended in 1865, but long after the last veterans were gone, their family members remained. Can you deduce the death year of the last know Union veteran's widow? HINT-Space Shuttle "Columbia" disaster.		1956
7. The last surviving Mexican War veteran is also the only Navy centenarian in the quiz. Can you determine when Owen Thomas Edgar set sail on his final journey? HINT-Stock market crash heralds the Great Depression.		1955
8. World War 1 saw an unprecedented growth of the US military, to almost 2.9 million men. The last of that generation was Frank Buckles, who died soon after his 110th birthday. What was the year? HINT-rough year for bad guys: bin Laden, Gaddafi, Kim Jong-Il all dead.		2005
9. The hunt for Pancho Villa involved about 10,000 US participants; the last known veteran of that expedition was former Buffalo Soldier Mark Matthews. When did he take his last ride? HINT-Hurricane Katrina ravages Gulf Coast.		2011
10. World War 2 saw the largest military in US history - over 12 million men and women. It's a prediction only, but what year does the Department of Veteran Affairs estimate the last WW2 veteran will die? HINT-Really?		1993