How Many WWI and WWII Veterans Are Still Alive in 2013? Update

World War I & II Vets: Fewer Every Year

As time marches on, the events of World War I and World War II fade into the past. Those who experienced these devastating wars firsthand are dying each year, and soon there won't be anyone left to tell their stories. After all, WWI was fought between 1914 and 1918, and WWII went from 1939-1945. How many WWI and WWII vets are still alive?

How Many World War I Vets Are Still Alive?

The last verified WWI veteran died two years ago. Her name is Florence Green, and she served in the Royal Women's Air Force from 1918 through 1919. The last combat veteran, Charles "Chuckles" Choules, died at age 110 in July 2011.

(Jozef Kowalski, Poland's oldest living veteran and oldest living man, period, joined the army just after WWI ended, though he fought in WWII. He is 112 years old.)

How Many World War II Veterans Are Still Alive?

There are more than a million surviving American World War II veterans. According to the VA, WWII vets are dying at a rate of around 680 per day.

Wikipedia's list of notable surviving WWII veterans is a good point of departure, but must not be considered exhaustive.

If you know a veteran of World War II, or if you have one in your family, consider having them contact StoryCorps.