Emiliano Mercado del Toro:115 years old

The world's oldest WWI veteran and the oldest living person in the world celebrated his 115th birthday last month.

America's oldest veteran and the world's oldest person celebrated his 115th birthday on August 21, 2006 in the Puerto Rico town of Isabela surrounded by family and well-wishers. Emiliano Mercado del Toro was a boy when the United States seized Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898. He entered the U.S. Army in 1918 and was based in Florida for training as World War l ended. Mercado was declared the world's oldest person by the Guinness Book of Records last year. He is the oldest of 18 living World War I U.S. veterans identified by VA during the past year.

VA continues to search for World War I veterans in preparation for national recognition of America's remaining Doughboys. If you know of a World War I veteran in your area, contact Chris Scheer, VA Office of Public Affairs, at [email protected].

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[edit on 2006/9/12 by GradyPhilpott]