On 11 November 1918, while on duty and eager to celebrate the armistice, the Germans bombarded the positions where Ooghe was stationed and ten of his companions perished before the bugle sounded the end of the conflict.
[2] Ooghe was a recipient of numerous honors and awards and was until his death often regarded as the last living Belgian survivor of World War I.
He was a regular participant in the annual commemorations of the war and was often willing to speak at length about his experiences and the futility of conflict.
His aim was to infuse a civic sense in young people, as well as the importance of keeping the memory of the conflict alive.
Up until a short time before his death, he was widely announced as being the last surviving Belgian World War I veteran.