Frank Steer
Encyclopedia
Frank Steer was, at age 105, one of the last surviving American
veterans of the First World War
. Steer joined the United States Army
at age 17 in 1918. He was sent to France
in July 1918, and served on the Western Front against the Germans
. Steer saw action at the battle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
. After the war, he stayed in the army and served in the Second World War
as a major
appointed Provost Marshal
of Hawaii
during its period under martial law
. Among his duties was the oversight of the prostitutes who serviced visiting soldiers and sailors. Steer eventually retired from service in 1945 as a colonel
after serving 27 years. He served in both world wars and was therefore an honorary soldier of the United States Army. In 1959, Steer moved to Hawaii
after it had become a part of the Union, and lived there for the rest of his life. He died at age 105.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
veterans of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Steer joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at age 17 in 1918. He was sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in July 1918, and served on the Western Front against the Germans
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Steer saw action at the battle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
. After the war, he stayed in the army and served in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
appointed Provost Marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
during its period under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
. Among his duties was the oversight of the prostitutes who serviced visiting soldiers and sailors. Steer eventually retired from service in 1945 as a colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
after serving 27 years. He served in both world wars and was therefore an honorary soldier of the United States Army. In 1959, Steer moved to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
after it had become a part of the Union, and lived there for the rest of his life. He died at age 105.
See also
- Veterans of the First World War who died in 2006Veterans of the First World War who died in 2006The following is a list of known veterans of the First World War who died in 2006.-Austria-Hungary :-France :-Germany :-Italy :-Turkey/Ottoman Empire :...