This is an incomplete list of the last surviving veterans of American wars. The last surviving veteran of any particular war, upon their death, marks the end of a historic era. Exactly who is the last surviving veteran is often an issue of contention, especially with records from long-ago wars. The "last man standing" was often very young at the time of enlistment and in many cases had lied about his age to gain entry into the service, which confuses matters further.
Daniel Frederick Bakeman (1759–1869) —
Continental Army. Last veteran drawing a pension awarded by Congress; granted a pension in 1867 even though he could not prove his service.[7]
John Gray (1764–1868) — Continental Army. Last verifiable veteran. Served at
Yorktown. Six month service period was too short to qualify for pension.[8] Granted a pension in 1867.
Israel Adam Broadsword (1846–1952) —
Free-Stater. Joined a Kansas
Home Guard unit in 1859 to protect against raids. Later served in the Civil War.[40]: 857
Aaron Daggett (1837–1938) - Union Army. Last surviving General of the Civil War.
Billy Rufus Stanford (1850–1937) —
Confederate Navy. Last surviving Confederate sailor. Defended
Columbus, Georgia during Sherman's March to the Sea with Company C of the Naval Battalion.[46]
^Conter, an enlisted U.S. Navy sailor, is the last survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona. The last survivor of the ship's Marine Detachment was Lamar Crawford (1920–2011).[64] The last surviving commissioned officer was Joseph Langdell (1914–2015).[65]
^Williams was also the last surviving Marine recipient. The last surviving Army Medal of Honor recipient was
Charles Coolidge (1921–2021). Coolidge was also the last surviving recipient who had been awarded the medal during the war.[67]
^Freeman was an enlisted soldier. The last surviving commissioned officer of Easy Company was
Edward Shames (1922–2021).
^Dalzell, James McCormick; Gray, John (1868). Private Dalzell, his autobiography, poems, and comic war papers, sketch of John Gray, Washington's last soldier, etc. R. Clarke. p. 189.
^Franck, Michael S. (1996). Elmwood Endures: History of a Detroit Cemetery. Wayne State University Press. p. 50.
ISBN9780814325919.
^Gordon, Dennis (2000). The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One. Schiffer Military History. p. 169.
ISBN9780764311086.
This is an incomplete list of the last surviving veterans of American wars. The last surviving veteran of any particular war, upon their death, marks the end of a historic era. Exactly who is the last surviving veteran is often an issue of contention, especially with records from long-ago wars. The "last man standing" was often very young at the time of enlistment and in many cases had lied about his age to gain entry into the service, which confuses matters further.
Daniel Frederick Bakeman (1759–1869) —
Continental Army. Last veteran drawing a pension awarded by Congress; granted a pension in 1867 even though he could not prove his service.[7]
John Gray (1764–1868) — Continental Army. Last verifiable veteran. Served at
Yorktown. Six month service period was too short to qualify for pension.[8] Granted a pension in 1867.
Israel Adam Broadsword (1846–1952) —
Free-Stater. Joined a Kansas
Home Guard unit in 1859 to protect against raids. Later served in the Civil War.[40]: 857
Aaron Daggett (1837–1938) - Union Army. Last surviving General of the Civil War.
Billy Rufus Stanford (1850–1937) —
Confederate Navy. Last surviving Confederate sailor. Defended
Columbus, Georgia during Sherman's March to the Sea with Company C of the Naval Battalion.[46]
^Conter, an enlisted U.S. Navy sailor, is the last survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona. The last survivor of the ship's Marine Detachment was Lamar Crawford (1920–2011).[64] The last surviving commissioned officer was Joseph Langdell (1914–2015).[65]
^Williams was also the last surviving Marine recipient. The last surviving Army Medal of Honor recipient was
Charles Coolidge (1921–2021). Coolidge was also the last surviving recipient who had been awarded the medal during the war.[67]
^Freeman was an enlisted soldier. The last surviving commissioned officer of Easy Company was
Edward Shames (1922–2021).
^Dalzell, James McCormick; Gray, John (1868). Private Dalzell, his autobiography, poems, and comic war papers, sketch of John Gray, Washington's last soldier, etc. R. Clarke. p. 189.
^Franck, Michael S. (1996). Elmwood Endures: History of a Detroit Cemetery. Wayne State University Press. p. 50.
ISBN9780814325919.
^Gordon, Dennis (2000). The Lafayette Flying Corps: The American Volunteers in the French Air Service in World War One. Schiffer Military History. p. 169.
ISBN9780764311086.