Mourners honour death of last Canadian First World War veteran

First World War veteran John 'Jack' Babcock, seen here in February 2008, has died, the Prime Minister's Office announced Thursday, Feb. 18. He was 109. Babcock, who enlisted at 15, was the last remaining First World War veteran for Canada.

Photograph by: Brian J Gavriloff, Edmonton Journal

SPOKANE, Wash — When Jack Babcock joined the Canadian Army at the age of 15, it’s likely he never imagined that he’d be the last soldier standing more than 94 years later.
But that’s exactly what Babcock was when he died Feb. 18, at the age of 109.
Babcock was remembered Saturday afternoon at a memorial service at Messiah Lutheran Church in his hometown of Spokane, Wash.
The service was attended by a list of Canada’s top dignitaries.
Babcock was the last Canadian veteran of the First World War, and the last link to what many Canadians consider the country’s coming-of-age.


more... Mourners honour death of last Canadian First World War veteran

Advise and Assist Paratroopers jump in Iraq

U.S. Department of Defense - Photo Essay

Dirt flies off a U.S. paratrooper's boots as he finishes a parachute landing fall with other paratroopers stationed on Camp Ramadi, Iraq, Feb. 5, 2010. The paratroopers are participating in a basic airborne refresher course taught by instructors visiting from Advanced Airborne School on Fort Bragg, N.C., to prepare for upcoming airborne exercises. The paratroopers are assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division's 1st Brigade, an Advise and Assist Brigade.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod

Download Hi-Res

U.S. Army paratroopers land on a drop zone near Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, Feb. 12, 2010, as part of a training exercise they hope will lead to combined U.S. – Iraqi training jumps. The jumper rolling on his back is performing a “parachute landing fall,” a maneuver that dissipates the energy of impact, avoiding injury to the paratrooper.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod
Download Hi-Res

Ten Devils become US Citizens today at Victory Base Complex, Iraq

Paratroopers with 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Advise and Assist Brigade), stand with their new flags after participating in a naturalization ceremony to gain U.S. citizenship Feb. 15, 2010, in Al Faw Palace, Victory Base Complex, Iraq. From left to right are Spc. Victor Martin-Hurtado, Spc. Hector Tobar-Castaneda, Spc. Georgios Theocharis, Sgt. James Hayes, Spc. Ojumiri Mammah, Pfc. Yaroslav Prikhodko, Spc. Casper Alsoft and Spc. Arturo Maint-Martinez. Also with 1/82 AAB and earning citizenship, but not pictured here, are Spc. Said Bahmad and Spc. Isa Jubran. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Michael J. MacLeod, 1/82 AAB, USD-C)

Facebook | 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division's Photos - Ten Devils become US Citizens today at Victory Base Complex, Iraq