Robley Rex

Robley Henry Rex (May 2, 1901 – April 28, 2009) was a World War I-era veteran and was, at the age of 107, one of two remaining U.S. veterans related to the First World War.

Rex was born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and enlisted in the military in May, 1919, six months after the Armistice date. He was the last Kentucky World War I era veteran, and the last known World War I era veteran of the United States. He served in the Intelligence Unit.

He enlisted in the 5th Infantry Division and later served in the 28th Infantry Division. He was deployed for Europe, as there was still a strong military presence there, trying to restabilize Europe post-war. After being discharged from the Army in August 1922, Rex returned to Louisville, Kentucky, where he became a postal worker and an ordained Methodist minister.

Rex met his future wife Gracie at Louisville's Camp Taylor before he was sent to Europe. They married in 1922 but never had children. She died in 1992.

In 1986, Rex turned to volunteerism, lending support to fellow veterans at the Louisville Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Rex logged more than 14,000 hours of volunteer time while at the Center. He continued to volunteer there three days a week, even at age 105. For his 107th birthday, Rex was presented the Kentucky Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. He was also honored in 2005 by the national Veterans of Foreign Wars as National Volunteer of the Year.