America's oldest veteran has died at age 115

[82Rigger]

Emiliano Mercado del Toro (Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, August 21, 1891 - Isabela, Puerto Rico, January 24, 2007) was the world's oldest person for slightly more than a month, and was the second oldest man ever to be validated.

Emiliano (sometimes spelled 'Emilio') was born the son of Delfin Mercado and Gumercinda del Toro. Emiliano worked in the cane fields. He never married and never had children, but said he had three girlfriends in his life.

He first came to the attention of longevity researchers in 2001, when a story ran about a 110-year-old veteran in a parade in Puerto Rico. After that, researchers tried to track him down, but only after the November 2004 death of Fred H. Hale, Sr. did someone finally start sending in documents. Following Fred's passing Emiliano apparently became the oldest man in the world, with documents supplied so far including a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, 1910 census record and veteran ID card. By January 2005 Guinness had accepted Emiliano as the "oldest living man whose age could be fully authenticated."

In addition, as a veteran of World War I, he broke the record for longest-lived veteran of any military force that was set by Antonio Todde, although Antonio Pierro currently has the distinction of oldest combat veteran, since Emiliano was still in training camp when the November 11, 1918 armistice was declared.

In 1993 he was honored by U.S. President Bill Clinton with the medal commemorating the 75th anniversary of the signing of the truce that ended World War I. Mercado del Toro, the elder of two siblings, never married nor had children, but he was well taken care of by his nieces and nephews and their families. He credited his longevity to boiled corn, cod, and milk, which he ate every day. He reminisced about being a child when U.S. troops invaded Puerto Rico in 1898, and he clearly remembered the fighting that marked the end of Spain's colonial empire in the Americas.


Rest in Peace, Emilio....and THANK YOU for your service!

[82Rigger]

Some additional info...

There are now SEVEN surviving American World War One veterans:

Lloyd Brown (born 7 Oct 1901), US Navy, Resides in Charlotte Hall, Maryland

Frank Woodruff Buckles (born 1 Feb 1901) US Army, resides in Charles Town, West Virginia

J. Russell Coffey (born 1 Sept 1898) US Army, Resides in North Baltimore, Ohio

Harry Richard Landis (born 12 Dec 1899) US Army, Resides in Tampa Bay, Florida

Antonio Pierro (born 22 FEb 1896) US Army, resides in Swampscott, Massachusetts

Howard Verne Ramsey (born 2 April 1898) US Army, resides in Portland, Oregon

Charlotte Winters (born 10 November 1897) US Navy, Resides in Boonsboro, Maryland

These seven veterans were actually in military service BEFORE the armistice of Nov 11, 1918.

Antonio Pierro is a COMBAT veteran and saw action in the Battle of St. Michiel and the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

[locksly]

Rest in Peace Emiliano Mercado del Toro .

[Jerry D]

RIP Emiliano Mercado del Toro

[Boats]

Can you imagine his home coming celebration. RIP old soldier you've had a full life.

[Stick]

Welcome home Emilio.

[Robert Ryan]

RIP in Emilio. The Lord is at the gates waiting to welcome you into heaven along with all the fallen brothers and sisters who have served.

[39mto39g]

It's about time

[Raggedy Ann]

Wow the things he must have done and seen in his lifetime. RIP Emilio.

Raggedy Ann

[SparrowHawk62]

R.I.P. old timer, hope it was a great life. See you on the final cruise.