Photo of WWII Veteran Casting Vote Captures Hearts

[ellisonz]

Frank Tanabe, center, gets help from his daughter Barbara Tanabe, left, Wednesday to fill out his absentee ballot in Honolulu while his wife Setsuko Tanabe sits in the foreground. The photo of the 93-year-old World War II veteran casting what will likely be his last ballot has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of Internet users. (AP Photo/provided by Irene Tanabe)

By Audrey McAvoy
Associated Press
POSTED: 05:17 a.m. HST, Oct 22, 2012
LAST UPDATED: 05:38 a.m. HST, Oct 22, 2012

A photograph of a 93-year-old World War II veteran casting what will likely be his last ballot has captured the hearts of tens of thousands of Internet users.

The photo shows Frank Tanabe lying in a hospital bed at home in Honolulu as his daughter Barbara Tanabe helps him fill out his absentee ballot.

------------

He’s been determined to vote regardless, eagerly asking when the ballot would be arriving in the mail, his daughter said. She kept telling him, “don’t worry, it’s coming.” He filled it out immediately when it landed in the mailbox on Wednesday.

Barbara Tanabe read aloud the names of the candidates to her dad. He either nodded “yes” to the names or shook his head “no.” She filled in the boxes on his behalf, following his instructions even when he didn’t pick the people she wanted.

More: http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/175248241.html?id=175248241

Frank Tanabe served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Battalion Team - the "Go For Broke" battalion (including more pictures): http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/May/18/op/hawaii805180341.html

This election season my 92-year-old grandfather and 90-year-old grandmother will voting (for opposite candidates), both survived Hitler's concentration camps in Poland. My grandfather will not require any assistance, my grandmother will require some assistance. Are your elderly parents or grandparents voting?

[Scurrilous]

1. My 93 year old Mother voted absentee.

I mailed the ballot last week.

[ellisonz]

2. Awesome!

[Ikonoklast]

3. My eighty-three year old Mom and Dad both voted already.

As have I, my three kids, and their various SO's.

Nine Ohio votes, all Democratic.

[progressoid]

4. Mine too.

Early voting rocks!

[ellisonz]

5. O-H-I-OOOOOOOOO!

[ellisonz]

6. Kick

[ellisonz]

7. Kick

[pinboy3niner]

8. WWII vet dies at age 93 after casting last ballot

By AUDREY McAVOY | Associated Press – 35 mins ago

HONOLULU (AP) — A World War II veteran who inspired many with his determination to vote even though he had end-stage liver cancer died Wednesday.

Frank Tanabe's daughter Barbara Tanabe said he died at her Honolulu home, where he has spent the past few weeks in hospice. He was 93.

Barbara Tanabe said she put the American flag up outside the home to mark the day for him and their family.

"He really liked it when I put out the flag," she said.

...


http://news.yahoo.com/wwii-vet-dies-age-93-casting-last-ballot-203523077.html

[ellisonz]

9. R.I.P. Frank Tanabe