Thursday, November 11, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nevada's oldest veteran stands proud

World War I veteran Reuben Law, front passenger seat, rides in a Nevada Day parade entry on Oct. 30. The parade honored Nevada's veterans. The 106-year-old credits his longevity to genes and hard work. Photo by CATHLEEN ALLISON/SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW JOURNAL Reuben Law, 106, talks recently about his experiences as a World War I veteran. He said he remembers Nov. 11, 1918, when World War I came to an end. Photo by CATHLEEN ALLISON/SPECIAL TO THE REVIEW JOURNAL

CARSON CITY -- Reuben Law can't get the fall of 1918 out of his head.

He remembers Babe Ruth helping pitch the Boston Red Sox to victory in the World Series. That September, at the age of 20, he joined the Army and boarded a troop ship to Europe and the battlefields in France.

On the 20-day voyage, nearly 30 percent of his comrades died from influenza, the so-called "Spanish flu." Law became excruciatingly sick, but survived because two of his buddies kept him warm.

This fall was similar, but hardly as memorable. He watched Curt Schilling help pitch the Red Sox to their first world championship in 86 years. He was lucky enough to get a flu shot. And he survived the snowy Carson City weather riding with fellow veterans in a convertible in the Nevada Day Parade.

Law is 106 years old. He is Nevada's only remaining World War I veteran. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates about 600 of the 4.7 million American soldiers who fought in the "war to end all wars" remain alive.

He has lived through seven American wars and remains a committed patriot, confident in his country and its presidents. But Law also admits he is puzzled by the war in Iraq, although he voted for and backs President Bush.

"The country's leadership has always done the right thing," Law said in an interview at the home of his son, David. "We have been blessed with progress and pitched in when there were problems and tried to straighten out the world. Sometimes, too much."

Like the war in Iraq, World War I was not universally popular. Woodrow Wilson did not back America's entry into the war until 1917, three years after the fighting in Europe began.

Critics went to jail for sedition after expressing opposition. American's entry came ostensibly because Germany was sinking our private merchant ships -- although many clearly were carrying arms for the British and French.

"I think it was necessary," Law said. "A lot of people died so a greater number didn't have to die. I wasn't in any immediate danger. I never did anything heroic, but I felt I was dong something really important."

Law served as a sergeant in an Army motor truck company. Having worked in a Ford Model T factory as a teenager, he knew how to repair just about any kind of engine.

He remembers how Gen. John Pershing opposed trench warfare -- in which huge numbers of European soldiers died fighting over a few hundred yards of ground.

Instead, Pershing prepared the American Expeditionary Forces for major battles where they would force enemies to retreat.

Law credits Pershing's strategy with bringing an end to the war on Nov. 11, 1918, a day that became known as Armistice Day. In 1954 Congress changed the name to Veterans Day, and President Eisenhower called on citizens to honor the sacrifices of all veterans.

Since all four of his children are war veterans, Law does not mind sharing the day with all veterans. He also is a World War II veteran.

Law has not forgot the armistice back in 1918.

"We loaded up a whole bus full of troops and went down to town (in France) to celebrate. Every girl who wandered by gave us a kiss. They were just ecstatic about the end of the war."

Born Aug. 14, 1898, in Northfield, Minn., Law credits his longevity on genes and hard outdoor work.

Both his mother and aunt lived to be 109. He worked for many years in the Minnesota parks department and as a landscape architect. He kept in shape in frigid Northern Minnesota winters by plowing snow and moving rocks from fields.

"I have good genes, heart genes, but I am kind of rickety elsewhere," he said. "I was never a big money-maker, but I was always happy. I enjoyed what I was doing. If I had to do it over, I can't imagine I would do anything differently."

He is hard of hearing and sometimes loses his train of thought, but Law could pass for a man of 85. He offers arguments on why George W. Bush was a better candidate for president than John Kerry.

Law tells a good story on why he became a Republican.

"I once was a Democrat. I was working for the Highway Department in St. Paul. The Democrats had a 3 percent man. He came to my dressing table every month and demanded 3 percent of my wages. I have to save it for him. That was the only way I could hold that job. So I started being a Republican."

He reads the newspaper, watches TV and does jigsaw puzzles. He walks upstairs to the dining room in his son's home and putters around the yard.

"I watched the presidential debates; I watched the World Series and the buildup to it. Sure I remember Babe Ruth when he played for the Red Sox. Minnesota had a very good team, too. They never have had as much money for hiring players, but they have had devoted players."

Law left his beloved Minnesota at age 95 in 1993 to move to Carson City.

When he arrived, Law would hike the mountains near the home of his son and daughter-in-law. He planted trees in the yard and drove until he was 101.

"I was fairly vigorous then, but I have been wearing out. I had a hard time getting used to all the bald mountains. There are so many trails in so many directions. Good ones, but I can't hike them anymore. It's the one thing I regret."

Law remains optimistic about America's future.

"If we manage our resources decently, there will be great opportunities. I couldn't imagine 100 years from now. It will be an entirely different earth. I don't know what is up in the sky now. We may have another world out there."