Frank Steer (January 12, 1901 - March 7, 2006) 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.