Last Surviving World War I Veteran Gets His Citizenship Back
By winterose
@winterose (39887)
Canada
May 8, 2008 11:59pm CST
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070718/babcock_birthday_070718/20070718?hub=CTVNewsAt11
Canada's last known surviving First World War veteran took a bite of his 107th birthday cake, read his card from the Queen and wondered what all the fuss was about.
Jack Babcock, World War I veteran of southern Ontario, age 107, got his Canadian citizenship back,.
e Royal Canadian Regiment to go and fight the Germans in the muddy, bloody battlefields of Europe.
Lying about his age, Babcock made it to England before his service record caught up with him and he was relegated to the Boys Batallion and not allowed to see action.
He trained hard along with nearly 1,300 other under-age soldiers in anticipation of crossing the channel and facing enemy fire, but the war ended before he could set foot in the trenches of France.
He moved to United States and lost his Canadian citizenship,
Veterans affairs minister went to him and asked him if he wanted his citizenship back,
Of course he did, and now he is a Canadian citizen again and he is happy, he will leave this world as he came in, as a Canadian citizens.
Do you think this veteran should have his citizenship restored and should it never have been taking away from him in the first place,
I think I veteran should never lose his citizenship ever.
9 responses
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
14 May 08
That is great news! I just wish they hadn't waited so long to ask him if he wanted his citizenship back. Like you I don't think he should have lost it.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
16 May 08
Well whether it was his dicision or not it is a good thing happening for his am I hope he will be really happy in his homeland with his citizenship back.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 May 08
no they never should have waited that long, now the news story has changed and they say he asked for it that is why he is getting it.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
2 Jun 08
I think he has every right to have his citizenship back. He deserves it back. He worked hard at what he did. I am not sure if it ever should have been taken away though. I can see it in one way but really do not know for sure about it. I think, since he was a veteran, he should have at least had the chance to do what he had to do to keep the citizenship.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
3 Jun 08
it is just the country citizenship laws, the same is for the usa, actually worse, because now I can hold duel citizenship as a canadian,
but if I was an american and left the country I would lose my american citizenship.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
11 May 08
I really enjoy uplifting articles. He deserved getting back his citizenship and sorry to see he had lost it. Wow, 107 is amazing to still be living today.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 May 08
I am not sure that I would want to live that long, but it is amazing he reached 107 and his citizenship is restored, what a wonderful gift in deed.
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
9 May 08
I agree that he should never have lost his citizenship in the first place. I don't quite understand HOW he lost it.
Now, I know when you become a U.S. citizen, you are supposed to renouce any previous citizenship, but it doesn't say he did that - tho I guess he did. Most other nations recognize duel citizenships. Some young people can invoke duel citizenships, and have, to go to the Olympics when they aren't good enough to go for the U.S. I remember a skater going for some smaller nation when she failed to make it on the U.S. team because one of her parents was from that nation.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 May 08
I don't know about the laws back then by now you never lose your canadian citizenship, americans loss theirs if they do not prove residence in the usa.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
22 May 08
yes I think that it is a wonderful thing that he is getting his citizenship back.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
9 May 08
bless his heart! good for him. i'm glad he's happy & i am happy for him.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
11 May 08
Well that's a great birthday present.What a great story.
1 person likes this
@LilyPad123 (377)
• Singapore
9 May 08
As long they are a veterans of war they should be treated with respect and gratitude. They should not have taken away his citizenship in the first place. He did his share of fighting and still wanted to get back to do something he believed in.. well at least he got a happy ending and he is happy about it..
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 May 08
I agree it should never have been taken away, exceptions should be made for veterans
