WW1 Centennial News

• Ask Alexa: “Play W W 1 Centennial News Podcast” |@ 01:00

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago this week  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is October 4th, 2017 and our guests this week are:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,   

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

Before we get going today I wanted to let you know,

especially all of you who own Amazon Echo or other Alexa enabled device, Alexa has a new skill. If you say “Alexa, play the “W” “W” one centennial news podcast” she will dutifully find the most current episode on the internet and play it for you.

We are excited because that opens up WW1 Centennial News to 20 million new player and all you have to do is ask! Welcome to the future - but right now - let’s jump into our wayback machine and head 100 years into the past!

• Food Will Win The War |@01:15

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is September 27th, 2017 and our guests this week are:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,   

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

[MUSIC TRANSITION]

We’ve gone back in time 100 years to explore the war that changed the world! It’s the last week of September 1917, let’s take a look at what happened this month:

The pages of the Official Bulletin are overflowing with articles about food, the food administration, and their impact on the war effort, with articles about food appearing every day this month. Here are a few of note:

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: September 12th, 1917

Headline: Government not to seize food supplies held in homes

There is no truth in a widely circulated statement that the Government expects to take food supplies from any family. Both the Food Administration and the Department of Agriculture join in a statement to counteract, what seems to be deliberate propaganda to the effect that the Government intends to take from every family all canned goods put up, in excess of 100 quarts.

TM - Apparently this was only one of many variations of rumors about the government seizing food

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Dateline: September 15th, 1917

Headline: Government licenses for manufacturers, refiners and importers of sugar, sirups, and molasses required

From time to time, whenever the President shall find it essential to license the importation, manufacture, storage, mining or distribution of any necessaries… The president is authorized to issue such licenses and to prescribe regulations of the issuance of licenses.

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: September 17th, 1917

Headline: Slogan “food will win war--don’t waste it” emblazoned on huge signs throughout country

Through the cooperation of advertising companies, the Treasury Department, municipal authorities and electric-light companies, the US Food Administration is, without cost, putting on a national outdoor advertising campaign that is probably the biggest thing of the sort ever undertaken. The slogan “Food will win the war -- don't waste it” is being emblazoned in every large city in the country on immense signs on public buildings. These signs are uniform in general design, in paint for daytime display and illuminated by electric light for night.

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: September 20th, 1917

Headline: American people can have full diet and still supply pressing needs of allies

The supplies in the world’s larder for the next twelve months are now known. They are too short to support our allies unless every man, woman and child enters National service by conserving food and supporting the Food Administration

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Dateline: September 20th, 1917

Headline: Big european demand upon america for meat will continue after war

The immediate problem is to furnish increased meat supplies to the allies to maintain them during the war… the impact of european demand upon our animal products will be maintained for a long period of years after peace. We must undertake to meet the demand not only during the war, so as to enable our allies to continue to fight, but we must be prepared to meet the demand after the war.

TM: So food is a big topic of national discussion during the month of September 100 years ago this week.

Also in the news,  casualty reports start to trickle into the Bulletin this month. Only a few thousand American soldiers have made it to Europe, and their primary tasks is training, preparing, training and preparing. Despite their small numbers and their relative distance from the front, war is war and casualties start to become an ever more frequent occurrence.

Soldiers get killed during a german air raid on a hospital, others in an air raid on an encampment; two aviators die in a mid-air collision during training while a third dies of an undisclosed accident; others die from meningitis or heart disease. Though tragic, these deaths are just a glimpse of what’s to come: life in the trenches, artillery fire, bombings, gas and the 1918 flu epidemic are challenges yet to come.

- Go to our website to catch up on all the stories from 100 years ago this month. You can read the full daily issues of the Official Bulletin the government’s war gazette published at the order of President Wilson as the government’s voice of the war - you will find daily issues that we re-publish on the centennial anniversary of their original publish date at ww1cc.org/bulletin.

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Outside of the Official Bulletin, which is essentially the government’s propaganda machine  - other reports appear of a continuing and steady rise of anti-war sentiment.

We are joined by Mike shuster, former NPR correspondent and curator for the Great War Project blog, to tell us more about the on-going and perhaps ever more active anti-war movement in the US.

[MIKE SHUSTER]

Thank you Mike. That was Mike Shuster from the Great War Project blog with a look at the anti-war sentiment of some Americans 100 years ago this month.

LINK:

The growing anti-war movement in the US

http://greatwarproject.org/2017/09/17/in-the-u-s-a-growing-anti-war-movement/

https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03E6DA103AE433A25753C2A96F9C946696D6CF&legacy=true

“Those Draftin’ Blues”

Whether they are pro-war or not, America’s entry into this global conflict is now touching the lives of most every Americans.

Reflecting this, On September 24th 1917, composer Maceo Pinkard publishes “Those Draftin’ Blues”, a sorrowful tune with a message that resonates with many across the country .

[MUSIC]

Count Basie orchestration and re-recording of the song from 1940

Link: http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/movies/music_life_02.html#

[SOUND EFFECT]

If you would like to see videos about WW1, we invite you to visit our friends at the Great War Channel on Youtube -  They have been covering WW1 since the centennial of when war broke in 2014 - and from a more European perspective.

Highlights from the last few weeks include:

• We are coming to Italy and Slovenia! - Which is an announcement of their plans to produce episode on their next road trips through Europe.

Follow the link in the podcast notes or search for “the great war” on youtube.

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

[SOUND TRANSITION]

We have moved forward in time to the present…

Welcome to WW1 Centennial News NOW  -

This part of the program is not about history. Instead it is about how the centennial of “the War that changed the world” is being commemorated today.

We will begin our September 2017 wrapup with some news from the commission… on September 13th, during the Commission's quarterly meeting, in Washington, DC, Commissioner Terry Hamby as elected as the new Chair of the Commission.  

Commissioner Hamby follow Chair Robert J. Dalessandro, who has led the US World War I Centennial Commission since 2014.

"This is a huge honor for me," Commissioner Hamby said during his acceptance.

"Both my father and my great uncle served in World War I. My great uncle was lost in the Battle of the Meuse Argonne. I will put my whole heart into this job."

Commissioner Hamby is a Vietnam-era veteran, serving in the Navy during that war, and later in the Army Reserve, retiring in 1993, after 26 years of service. Learn more about this great veteran, entrepreneur and the new Chair of the US WW1 Centennial Commission by following the link in the podcast notes.

Link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3133-u-s-world-war-i-centennial-commission-elects-hamby-new-chair.html

Early next month on October 9, The United States Mint is going to unveil their design for a WW1 Commemorative Coin -  The design was selected by the mint, with a juried competition, resulting in thier selection of a 2018 World War I American Veterans Centennial -  silver dollar. The press announcement revealing their design will coincide with the A-USA - the Association of the United States Army - conference in Washington DC.

Also coming in 2018 will be five silver medals honoring the individual branches of the U.S. military — the Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force and Coast Guard.

link:https://www.usmint.gov/news/design-competitions/world-war-i

[SOUND EFFECT]

Cardines Field

For our Activities and Events Segment, we’re going to profile our pick of the week, selected from the U.S. National WW1 Centennial Events Register at WW1CC.org/events where are compiling and recording the WW1 Commemoration events from around the country.

Our pick of the week is from Newport, Rhode Island.  Here is the story… In 1917, when America declared war on Germany, Bernardo Cardines (cardeens) was a tailor living peacefully in Newport, RI. Cardines was an immigrant from Venafro in Italy, who emigrated alone to America in 1909 at the tender age of only fourteen.

Cardines, like many American immigrants, registered for the draft and went on to serve with the 78th Division in the American Expeditionary Forces. He fought at St. Mihiel and was killed in action during a raid on German positions on September of 1918.

On month, on Friday, September 29, the Rhode Island World War One Centennial Commission will rededicate the Bernardo Cardines Memorial Baseball Field. The field is one of the oldest baseball fields in the U.S. and was originally dedicated in September of 1936, in memory of Private Cardines.

The re-dedication is free to the public and will include a unique commemorative event: namely - an Army-Navy baseball game that will be played by students from the U.S. Naval War College, and they are going to play the game, dressed in period baseball uniforms. That sounds like great fun! Learn more about the ceremony and Private Cardines by following the link in the podcast notes.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/47181/rededication-of-bernardo-cardines-memorial-field.html

http://ww1cc.org/events

https://patch.com/rhode-island/newport/private-bernardo-cardines

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And now for our feature “Speaking World War 1 - Where we  explore today’s words & phrases that are rooted in a century ago  ---

This week the word is not really a word, but an abbreviation that you would not have guessed was birthed during WW1… and that phrase is… “OMG”

One hundred years ago this month, on September 9th, 1917, a retired admiral of the British navy, Lord Fisher, fired off a letter to Winston Churchill.

The two men often wrote to one another about various naval aspects of the ongoing war, and in this letter --- on this day --- he wrote:

My dear sir --- I hear that a new order of Knighthood is on the tapis–O.M.G. (Oh! My God!)–Shower it on the Admiralty!!” We are not really sure what he was prattling about - but on that day he did coin the term.

And while you may gave always believed that OMG was a texting term from a california 18 year old mall rat -  The first ever documented use of term is between two english gentlemen during world war I - OMG-- That is sooo cray cray - and it’s also this week’s word for Speaking World War One!

We have a link for you to the article where we found this story in the podcast notes.

link: https://www.wsj.com/article_email/omg-it-started-in-1917-with-a-letter-to-churchill-1504882081-lMyQjAxMTA3OTE4MDAxNzA3Wj/

http://today-in-wwi.tumblr.com/post/165172940448/first-use-of-omg

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This was a big week for the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program. On Wednesday September 27th, the US World War One Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library announced the First 50 official “WWI Centennial Memorials”

That is only half of them - because every since the April 6th centennial of the the US declaration of war, the awareness, interest and focus on local WWI memorials around the country has really blossomed.

So instead of just extending the submission period to give some of these new projects a chance to participate -, the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program decided name the first 50 awardees now, and then open the grant award competition for a second round staring NOW. Everyone who was part of the first round but didn’t get an award -- automatically goes into round 2 - which is already underway and runs till January 15th, next year in 2018.

Meanwhile the first 50 “WWI Centennial Memorials” are officially designated and the grants are awarded..

100C/100M Profile: Village of Swanton OH

We have one of those project with us here today with the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials project from from Swanton, OH.

Joining us to talk about the project is Ann Roth, the Mayor of the Village of Swanton.

Welcome, Mayor Roth!

[exchange greetings]

[Mayor Roth - how did you react to the announcement?]

[So as the Mayor of a community that has undertaken one of these projects, what has been the most memorable effect on your community? ]

[What plans you have for a rededication?]

[what coalition came together to make this happen?]

[were any veterans service organizations involved?]

Mayor Roth - Thank you so much for taking on this challenge - and for being here with us here today!

[Mayor ROth reply]

That was Ann Roth, Mayor of the Village of Swanton, Ohio.

We will continue to profile the submitting teams and their unique and amazing projects on the show over the coming months. See the list of awardees, learn more about the program - at ww1cc.org/100memorials or follow the link in the podcast notes. Maybe YOUR community should go for it!

Link: www.ww1cc.org/100memorials

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3166-first-50-official-wwi-centennial-memorials-to-be-announced.html

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Interview with Christy Leskovar

In our “Remember the veterans” section, today we wanted to feature an incredible story that follows our next guest from a career as a mechanical engineer as she turns into a historical sleuth and author.

With us today is Christy Leskovar to tell us more about her books, One Night in a Bad Inn and Finding the Bad Inn: Discovering My Family’s Hidden Past. Welcome, Christy!

[exchange greetings]

[Christy, your interest in your family history and specifically its involvement during the first world war started when you found out about a murder on your family’s ranch in Montana. Tell us about that!?]

[So many people have family ties to the war and find it daunting to conduct detailed research on their own. What advice would you give those who are interested in following in your footsteps?]

[That is some great advice Christy Thanks so much for joining us today! ]

That was Christy Leskovar, author of the books One Night in a Bad Inn and Finding the Bad Inn: Discovering My Family's Hidden Past, which you can learn more about and purchase at the links in the podcast notes.

Link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/2993-finding-the-great-war-on-the-way-to-the-bad-inn.html

https://www.amazon.com/One-Night-Bad-Inn-Story/dp/1575101424

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Bad-Inn-Discovering-Abridged/dp/0939872161/ref=pd_sim_14_1/144-1362782-5336769?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WJ4WW11HHTGW8R8TWZ5R

This week in our Articles and Posts segment - where we explore the World War One Centennial Commission’s rapidly growing website at ww1cc.org

Navy to survey wreck of sunken WWI cruiser

From our News section comes an article about an upcoming plan to study a sunken WW1 Cruiser.

The Navy has announced plans to survey the wreck of the WWI U.S. Navy cruiser San Diego, on which six American Sailors lost their lives, when she sank as a result of enemy action off the coast of New York on July 19, 1918.

The survey's objective is to assess the condition of the wreck site and determine if the ship --- the only major warship lost by the United States, was sunk as a result of a German submarine-launched torpedo or a mine.

Ultimately, that data gathered will help inform the management of the sunken craft, which lies only a few miles south of Long Island.

The announcement comes just weeks after the 99th anniversary of the sinking, and the survey, which was planned for Sept. 11-15, is timed to allow researchers to conduct a thorough examination of the site and prepare, then release, their findings around the date of the 100th anniversary.

Underwater archaeology is always so cool!! Follow the expedition by following the link in the podcast notes.

link:http://www.centenarynews.com/article/us-navy-surveys-wreck-of-wwi-cruiser-sunk-in-1918

www.ww1cc.org/news

It’s time for an update about our WWRITE blog, which explores WWI’s Influence on contemporary writing and scholarship,

this week's post is: “Their Only Crime: African American WWI Poet James Seamon Cotter, Jr.”

"A monster... of war and not of war..." that is how James Seamon Cotter Jr. describes the genocide and racism that make up an important part of WWI's history and memory. You’ll find all this in his poem "O, Little David, Play on Your Harp": the Armenian Genocide, Russian pogroms, the Belgian atrocities, the deadly prejudice against African Americans. This week, WWI poetry-specialist, Connie Ruzich, returns to the WWrite blog to discuss Cotter, a forerunner of the African American cultural renaissance of the 1920s. Don't miss this tribute to a powerful poetic voice at ww1cc.org/wwrite - or go to the link in the podcast notes.

Link: www.ww1cc.org.wwrite

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/articles-posts/3170-their-only-crime.html

That brings us to the buzz - the centennial of WW1 this week in social media with Katherine Akey - Katherine - You have a bunch of articles to tell us about today - Take it away!

Thanks Theo! Here are some of the most interesting stories and photos we’ve shared on Facebook and Instagram in the last month!

• A review we shared highlights a new temporary exhibit at the Met focusing on the impact of World War 1 on visual artist.

Check out these stories by following the links in the podcast notes, or go to ww1cc.org/social to view all the great content we’ve been sharing in the last few weeks. And that’s it for the Buzz!

link:http://www.metmuseum.org/press/exhibitions/2017/wwi-and-the-visual-arts

https://www.facebook.com/ww1centennial/photos/a.290566277785344.1073741829.185589304949709/839216799586953/?type=3&theater

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-i/five-military-technologies-invented-wwi-still-use-today-m.html

http://www.wusa9.com/news/nation/military/in-a-first-arlington-national-cemetery-honors-service-members-lost-by-suicide/470157278

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/art/30326790

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-overlooked-story-of-104-african-american-doctors-who-fought-in-world-war-i/2017/09/22/ff2fda1e-9e0a-11e7-9c8d-cf053ff30921_story.html?utm_term=.84fd6d33b106

https://www.facebook.com/ww1centennial/posts/839831606192139

https://www.facebook.com/ww1centennial/photos/a.290566277785344.1073741829.185589304949709/844768992365067/?type=3&theater

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/world/europe/german-submarine-belgium.html

And that is WW1 Centennial News for this week.

We want to thank our guests:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog with a look at anti-war sentiment in the US

And I am Theo Mayer - your host.

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1; This program is a part of that….

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thank you for joining us again this week. And don’t forget to share- the stories you are hearing here- with someone- about the war that changed the world!

[music]

OMG My dear fellow - I think it’s time to tip a pint or two! - Don’t you?

So long!

• Food Will Win The War |@01:15

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is September 27th, 2017 and our guests this week are:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,   

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

[MUSIC TRANSITION]

We’ve gone back in time 100 years to explore the war that changed the world! It’s the last week of September 1917, let’s take a look at what happened this month:

The pages of the Official Bulletin are overflowing with articles about food, the food administration, and their impact on the war effort, with articles about food appearing every day this month. Here are a few of note:

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: September 12th, 1917

Headline: Government not to seize food supplies held in homes

This is another special feature presentation of the WW1 Centennial News Podcast.

Welcome to PART II of  “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace”.

This two part special is an adaptation from a live staged event the Commission produced on the April 6, 2017 centennial of America’s entry into: “ war that changed the world”.

Edward Bilous as the artistic director, and Chris Christopher as the US WW1 Centennial Commission’s executive producer pulled together an amazing group of artists, historians musician, actors, and others for a live performance staged at the National WWI Museum and Memorial  in Kansas City to an audience of over 3,000 attendees.

For this 2-part special we have excerpted key moments from the story that unfolds, the music that was performed and the readings from a cast of amazing actors, orators, musicians and other luminaries.

In Part 1 we examined the great debate in America about getting into the war, and today, in Part 2, we present how events overtook the debate and as America declared its entry into WW1.----more----

This podcast was adapted from the live event

In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace:

Centennial Commemoration of the US entry into WWI

Credits for the live event include:

Edward Bilous

Artistic Director

John Rensenhouse

Narrator

Michelle DiBucci

Music Director

Sarah Outhwaite

Video Designer

Carlos Murillo

Script and Adaptation

Greg Kalember

Music Producer, Mix Engineer, Sound Design

Portia Kamons

Executive Artistic Producer

For Virtua Creative

Shelby Rose

Producer, Media and Special Events

For Virtua Creative

Dale Morehouse

Speaker

Carla Noack

Speaker

David Paul

Pre-Recorded Speaker

Janith English

Principal Chief of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas

Sergeant Debra Kay Mooney

Choctaw Nation

Col. Gerald York

Grandson of Sergeant Alvin C. York

Deborah York

Great-Granddaughter of Sergeant Alvin C. York

Noble Sissle Jr.

Son of Noble Sissle

1st Infantry Division Band

Michael Baden

John Brancy

Francesco Centano

Billy Cliff

Peter Dugan

Ramona Dunlap

Lisa Fisher

Samantha Gossard

Adam Holthus

Christopher T. McLaurin

Chrisi Poland

Aaron Redburn

Reuben Allen

Matt Rombaum

Alan Schwartz

Yang Thou

Charles Yang

Alla Wijnands

Bram Wijnands

(In Alphabetical Order)

Freddy Acevedo

Yetunde Felix-Ukwu

Jason Francescon

Khalif Gillett

Emilie Karas

Chelsea Kisner

Christopher Lyman

Marianne McKenzie

Victor Raider-Wexler

Artillery Master

Charles B. Wood

National World War I Museum and Memorial:  TheWorldWar.org

Library of Congress: LOC.gov

New York Public Library: DigitalCollections.nypl.org

National Archives: Archives.gov

National Historic Geographic Information System: NHGIS.org

State Library of New South Wales: SL.nsw.gov.au

Imperial War Museums: IWM.org.uk

National Museum of African American History and Culture: NMAAHC.si.edu

The Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation and the York Family: SgtYork.org

Australian War Memorial: AWM.gov.au

National Media Museum: NationalMediaMuseum.org.uk

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Archive: WoodrowWilson.org

Mathers Museum of World Culture: Mathers.indiana.edu

Front Page Courtesy of The New York Times Company

THEO MAYER

[SOUND EFFECT - WAYBACK MACHINE]

We have gone back in time to January 1917.

Late last year, in 1916, Woodrow Wilson ran for president under the slogan “He Kept us Out Of War” and “America First” and he won - by a slim margin. In Western  Europe, Eastern Europe, the middle east and other areas around the world -  All tied together by colonial imperialism - the war rages on!

NARRATOR

Not long after the election of 1916, events would unfold at a rapid pace, until the United States reached a tipping point where isolationism could no longer be an option.

January 19, 1917 – Arthur Zimmerman, Foreign Secretary of the German Empire, sent a telegram to German Ambassador to Mexico, proposing an alliance between Germany and Mexico in the event of US entry into the War.

ZIMMERMAN

"We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in

spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance... make war together, make peace together... and an understanding... that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.... You will inform the President of the above... as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain...."

NARRATOR

The British Admiralty, which had cracked German diplomatic cipher systems, decoded the message

within hours. Seeking to influence the American government, the British provided the Americans a copy of the telegram. On the 28t h  of February, President Wilson released the telegram to the press. The appearance of the news nationwide on March 1s t  galvanized American support for entry into the war.

January 31, 1917, Robert Lansing, Secretary of State, received a note from the German Ambassador to the United States.

GERMAN AMBASSADOR

A new situation has... been created which forces Germany to new decisions.... England is using

her naval power for a criminal attempt to force Germany into submission by starvation. In brutal contempt of international law, the... powers led by England..., by ruthless pressure, compel neutral countries either to altogether forego every trade not agreeable to the Entente Powers, or to limit it according to their arbitrary decrees.

From February 1, 1917, sea traffic will be stopped with every available weapon and without further notice....

NARRATOR

This message from the German Ambassador directly contravened the German guarantee to Wilson   that ended unrestricted submarine warfare following the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. Coupled with the Zimmerman telegram, Germany’s renewed aggression decisively changed American attitudes about the war.    On February 3, 1917, the United States formally ended diplomatic relations with Imperial Germany.

On February 25, 1917, the Cunard Line ship Laconia was struck by German Torpedoes. Floyd Gibbons, an American correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, was on board and lived to describe the scene:

FLOYD GIBBONS

At 10:30 p.m., there was a muffled noise. Five sharp blasts – the signal to abandon. We walked

hurriedly down the corridor ... to the lounge which was amidships. We moved fast but there was no crowding and no panic.

...we looked down the slanting side of the ship and noticed ... her water line ... was a number of feet above the waves. ... the lifeboats... rested against the side of the ship.... I could see that we were going to have difficulty in the descent to the water.

‘Lower away!’ someone gave the order and we started downward ... toward the seemingly hungry... swells. The stern of the boat was down; the bow up, leaving us at an angle of about 45 degrees....

The tiers of lights dimmed slowly from white to yellow, then to red, and nothing was left but the murky mourning of the night..... The ship sank rapidly at the stern until at last its nose stood straight in the air. Then it slid silently down and out of sight....

NARRATOR

Austin Y. Hoy, a Chicago machinery company executive working in London, cabled President

Woodrow Wilson after the sinking of the LACONIA:

AUSTIN HOY

My beloved mother and sister, passengers on the LACONIA, have been foully murdered.... I call

upon my government to preserve its citizens’ self-respect and save others of my countrymen from such deep grief as I now feel. I am of military age, able to fight. If my country can use me against these brutal assassins, I am at its call.

If it stultifies my manhood and my nation’s by remaining passive under outrage, I shall seek a man’s chance under another flag.

NARRATOR

Events abroad also served to tip American opinion. The fall of the Russian Tsar's regime on March

15, 1917 resulted in a greater moral clarity for the Allied cause: the war was now a struggle of democratic nations against autocratic empires.

Despite the passions aroused by the Zimmerman telegram and the resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare, Wilson himself had no personal desire to bring the US into conflict in Europe. Wilson told a journalist off the record:

WILSON

If there is any alternative, for God’s sake, let’s take it!

NARRATOR

March 20. Wilson confers with his cabinet. They unanimously vote for War.

March 21. Wilson calls Congress into special session for April the 2n  d .

On the evening of April the second, 1917, President Wilson addresses a joint session of Congress asking for a Declaration of War.

WILSON

“While we do these momentous things, let us make very clear to all the world what our motives

are. Our object, now as then, is to vindicate the principles of peace and justice as against selfish and autocratic power. Neutrality is no longer feasible or desirable where the peace of the world is involved and the freedom of its peoples, and the menace to that peace and freedom lies in the existence of autocratic governments. We have seen the last of neutrality. We are at the beginning of an age in which it will be insisted that the same standards of conduct and of responsibility for wrong done shall be observed among nations and their governments that are observed among the individual citizens of civilized states.”

NARRATOR

The Congress rose to its feet and applauded enthusiastically. Cheering crowds lined the streets as Wilson departed from the Capitol. As author Byron Farwell wrote:

FARWELL QUOTE

It was the greatest speech of Wilson’s life. At about 10:00, when the president had returned to the White House, he and his wife had dinner with friends, after which Wilson wandered into the empty cabinet room. His secretary, Joseph Tumulty, found him there: ‘Think what they were applauding,’ he said to Tumulty. ‘My message today was a message of death for our young men. How strange it seems to applaud that.’ He put his head down on the table in the Cabinet Room, and sobbed.’

NARRATOR

Still, in the face of aggression, there were voices of opposition. Arkansas Senator George Norris:

SENATOR NORRIS

Belligerency would benefit only the class of people who will be made prosperous should we become entangled in the present war, who have already made millions..., and who will make hundreds of millions more if we get into the war. To whom does the war bring prosperity? Not to the soldier. Not to the broken hearted widow. Not to the mother who weeps at the death of her brave boy.... I feel that we are about to put the dollar sign on the American Flag.”

NARRATOR

The Senate passed the War Resolution with only three Republicans and three Democrats opposed.

The House voted 373 for, with 50 opposed. Jeanette Rankin, the first woman to serve in Congress, and the lone female Representative, voted against the resolution.

The approved Declaration of War was sent to President Wilson on April 6, 1917. At 1pm that day he signed:

“Approved 6 April, 1917, Woodrow Wilson.”

• Tolling of the bells

DEBORAH YORK

As the country mobilized, we leave you with the voices of two soldiers:

PERSHING

Major General John J. Pershing to President Woodrow Wilson, April 10, 1917:

 “Dear Mr. President:

As an officer of the army, may I not extend to you, as Commander-in-Chief of the armies, my sincere congratulations upon your soul-stirring patriotic address to Congress on April 2d. Your strong stand for the right will be an inspiration to humanity everywhere, but especially to the citizens of the Republic. It arouses in the breast of every soldier feelings of the deepest admiration for their leader.

I am exultant that my life has been spent as a soldier, in camp and field, that I may now the more worthily and more intelligently serve my country and you.

With great respect,

Your obedient servant, JOHN J. PERSHING

Major General, U.S. Army

DEBORAH YORK

And from the diary of Sergeant York serialized in  Liberty magazine in 1927:

SERGEANT YORK

I had no time to bother much about a lot of foreigners quarrelling and killing each other over in

Europe. I just wanted to be left alone to live in peace and love. I wasn’t planning my life any other way. ... I figured that if some people in the Wolf River Valley were quarrelling... it wasn’t any of my business to go and interfere, and Europe was much further away.... I never dreamed we’d go over there to fight. So I didn’t pay much attention to it. I didn’t let it bother me until I received from the post office a little red card telling me to register for the draft. That’s how the war came to me, in the midst of all my peace and happiness and dreams, which I felt all along were too good to be true, and just couldn’t last.”

THEO MAYER

In the meantime, the popular music of the time begins to address the American soldier, his image and his place in the world.

IF HE CAN FIGHT LIKE HE CAN LOVE, GOOD NIGHT, GERMANY!

If he can fight like he can love,

Oh what a soldier boy he’ll be!

If he’s just have as good in the trench As he was in the park or on a bench,

Then ev’ry Hun had better run

And find a great big linden tree

I know he’ll be a hero ‘over there’ ‘Cause he’s a bear in any Morris chair And if he fights like he can love

Why, then it’s goodnight, Germany!

Verse 2

Ev’ry single day all the papers say, Mary’s beau is, oh, so brave

With his little gun, chasing ev’ry Hun He has taught them to behave

Little Mary proudly shakes her head,

And says, “Do you remember what I said?”

Chorus

If he can fight like he can love,

Oh what a soldier boy he’ll be!

If he’s just have as good in the trench As he was in the park or on a bench, Then ev’ry Hun had better run

And find a great big linden tree

I know he’ll be a hero ‘over there’ ‘Cause he’s a bear in any Morris chair And if he fights like he can love

Why, then it’s goodnight, Germany!

ANNOUNCER

I Have A Rendezvous With Death (POEM: No Music or Sound)

I have a rendezvous with Death

At some disputed barricade,

When Spring comes back with rustling shade And apple-blossoms fill the air—

I have a rendezvous with Death

When Spring brings back blue days and fair.

It may be he shall take my hand

And lead me into his dark land

And close my eyes and quench my breath— It may be I shall pass him still.

I have a rendezvous with Death

On some scarred slope of battered hill, When Spring comes round again this year And the first meadow-flowers appear.

God knows ‘twere better to be deep Pillowed in silk and scented down, Where love throbs out in blissful sleep, Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath, Where hushed awakenings are dear...

But I’ve a rendezvous with Death

At midnight in some flaming town, When Spring trips north again this year, And I to my pledged word am true,

I shall not fail that rendezvous.

THEO MAYER

And so America goes to war and takes her place on the world stage. Nothing would be same again as the country heads into the most rapid and profound transformation of her young existence.

World War 1 Centennial news is here to tell you the story - We will explore WW1 Centennial News THEN - what was happening 100 years ago this week. And we will explore WW1 Centennial News NOW - what is happening today with the centennial commemoration of the war that changed the world.

And so it begins

[MUSIC]

That was Part 2 of our special feature presentation of “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace” our 2-part special of America’s reluctant entry into World War 1.

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1;

Our podcast and these specials are a part of that endeavor

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

If you like the work we are doing, please support it with a tax deductible donation at ww1cc.org/donate - all lower case

Or if you are on your smartphone text  the word: WW1 to 41444. that's the letters ww the number 1 texted to 41444. Any amount is appreciated.

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thanks for listening to this special presentation of WW1 Centennial News…

A full list of the many talented people who contributed to this production is in the podcast notes.

[OVER THERE]

So long.

This week and next week, we are going to break format as we present a 2-part special podcast version of  “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace”.

This two part special is an adaptation from a live staged event the Commission produced on the April 6, 2017 centennial of America’s entry into: The war that changed the world.

Edward Bilous as the artistic director, and Chris Christopher as the US WW1 Centennial Commission’s executive producer pulled together an amazing group of artists, historians musician, actors, and others for a live performance staged outdoors at the National WWI Museum and Memorial  in Kansas City to an audience of over 3,000 attendees.

For this 2-part special we have excerpted key moments from the story that unfolds, the music that was performed and the readings from a cast of amazing actors, orators, musicians and other luminaries.

Part 1 examines the great debate in America about getting into the war----more----

This podcast was adapted from the live event

In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace:

Centennial Commemoration of the US entry into WWI

Credits for the live event include:

Edward Bilous

Artistic Director

John Rensenhouse

Narrator

Michelle DiBucci

Music Director

Sarah Outhwaite

Video Designer

Carlos Murillo

Script and Adaptation

Greg Kalember

Music Producer, Mix Engineer, Sound Design

Portia Kamons

Executive Artistic Producer

For Virtua Creative

Shelby Rose

Producer, Media and Special Events

For Virtua Creative

Dale Morehouse

Speaker

Carla Noack

Speaker

David Paul

Pre-Recorded Speaker

Janith English

Principal Chief of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas

Sergeant Debra Kay Mooney

Choctaw Nation

Col. Gerald York

Grandson of Sergeant Alvin C. York

Deborah York

Great-Granddaughter of Sergeant Alvin C. York

Noble Sissle Jr.

Son of Noble Sissle

1st Infantry Division Band

Michael Baden

John Brancy

Francesco Centano

Billy Cliff

Peter Dugan

Ramona Dunlap

Lisa Fisher

Samantha Gossard

Adam Holthus

Christopher T. McLaurin

Chrisi Poland

Aaron Redburn

Reuben Allen

Matt Rombaum

Alan Schwartz

Yang Thou

Charles Yang

Alla Wijnands

Bram Wijnands

(In Alphabetical Order)

Freddy Acevedo

Yetunde Felix-Ukwu

Jason Francescon

Khalif Gillett

Emilie Karas

Chelsea Kisner

Christopher Lyman

Marianne McKenzie

Victor Raider-Wexler

Artillery Master

Charles B. Wood

National World War I Museum and Memorial:  TheWorldWar.org

Library of Congress: LOC.gov

New York Public Library: DigitalCollections.nypl.org

National Archives: Archives.gov

National Historic Geographic Information System: NHGIS.org

State Library of New South Wales: SL.nsw.gov.au

Imperial War Museums: IWM.org.uk

National Museum of African American History and Culture: NMAAHC.si.edu

The Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation and the York Family: SgtYork.org

Australian War Memorial: AWM.gov.au

National Media Museum: NationalMediaMuseum.org.uk

Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Archive: WoodrowWilson.org

Mathers Museum of World Culture: Mathers.indiana.edu

Front Page Courtesy of The New York Times Company

THEO MAYER

WW1 Centennial News is brought to YOU by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host.

Before we get into the main part of the show - - Let me try to set this up:

[SOUND EFFECT - WAYBACK MACHINE]

We’ve gone back in time to June 28, 1914. Today, a 19 year-old radicalized teenage Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip guns down Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie - ON their wedding anniversary no less. So this was all kicked off by a misguided kid - after all - what does anybody know about consequences at 19, and gunning down celebrities - is - pretty dumb and definitely misguided. And the archduke was a celebrity - he was in line for the throne of the Austro-hungarian empire.

Things are already pretty tense in Europe!

Austria-Hungary, blames the Serbian government for the attack and sees this as great justification for settling the question of Slavic nationalism once and for all - with a little war action.

BUT….  Russia supports Serbia, SO… Austria-Hungary asked Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm to back them in the event of a Russian intervention… An intervention that would probably suck in Russia’s ally, France, and maybe Britain too.

So - Just a month later on July 28, 1914 Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and a big burning match gets tossed on the very dry tinder of european tension… the tenuous peace between Europe’s big powers goes up in flames. Within a week, Russia, Belgium, France, Great Britain and Serbia line up against the Austria-Hungary and Germany, and World War I begin.

But remember - no one knows at the time that this is a global war. It’s just a little imperial action which Germany sees as a great opportunity - Remember - in German the word Kaiser means EMPEROR - so emperor Wilhelm thinks that this is a good time to expand German imperial holding with a rush west -  across Belgium - to deliver a quick and decisive blow to France for an imperially profitable end to a simple, messy little conflict.

BUT….at the First Battle of The Marne, 90 miles from Paris, the German plan falls apart and the Germans suffer a defeat at the hands of the Allies – over a million soldiers face off and fight over 6 days, and sadly more than 100,000 die.

This is where we join up with the live production beginning with a quote from Barbara Tuchman from her book - The GUNS OF AUGUST:

“After the Marne, the war grew and spread until it drew in the nations of both hemispheres and entangled them in a... world conflict no peace treaty could dissolve. The Battle of Marne was one of the decisive battles… not because it determined that Germany would ultimately lose or the Allies ultimately win the war, but because it determined that the war would go on…. The nations were caught in a trap… from which there was… no exit.”

NARRATOR

Even with the United States remaining resolutely neutral, many young Americans needed no persuasion to join the War effort.

Mary Gladwin, a nurse from Akron, Ohio, was among the first American Red Cross nurses to go to Europe during the War, serving as the supervisor of nurses at the American Hospital in Belgrade. She wrote:

MARY GLADWIN

The cannonading lasted all the time. There was no time during twenty-four hours in the first six months  that  some of the guns were not fired. My room was a little whitewashed one. Every time

one of the big French guns would fire.... It would illuminate all the wall and then... I would hear the boom of the guns. That kept up night after night, until the time came that we did not hear them any more…

NARRATOR

Eugene Bullard, the only African American pilot to fly in World War I, did so not for the United States, but for France. The son of a freed slave, Bullard stowed away to Europe in 1912, determined to escape racism in the US. After working as a boxer and vaudeville performer in England, Bullard settled in France. When hostilities broke out, he joined the infantry of the French Foreign Legion, earning the Croix de Guerre for bravery at the Battle of Verdun. After sustaining injuries and declared unfit for infantry service, Bullard earned his wings with the Aeronautique Militaire of France, and joined the Lafayette Flying Corps in 1916. His plane was decorated with the slogan” “All Blood Runs Red.” When the US entered the war, Bullard tried to enlist as a flyer for the Americans:

BULLARD

“I was more and more puzzled until it suddenly came to me that all my fellow countrymen who had transferred were white. Later, I learned that in World War I Negroes were not accepted as flyers in the United States Army. This hurt me, deeply.”

THEO MAYER

When hostilities broke out in Europe, thousands of Americans touring the continent descended on London hoping to find safe passage home, only to find themselves unable to obtain accommodations or tickets for the few ships sailing.

A forty year old mining engineer and financier from Iowa by the name of Herbert Hoover was living in London in 1914. Hoover organized an American relief committee that provided food, shelter and financial assistance to over 100,000 Americans.

Hoover’s leadership earned him the respect of the US Ambassador to Great Britain, Walter Hines Page. Ambassador Page tapped Hoover to lead a relief mission to Belgium.

After the Battle of Marne, Belgium faced starvation. Germany had invaded, but refused to take responsibility for feeding the populace. On the other side, Britain’s Naval blockade prevented ships from entering Belgian ports. So in October of 1914, Herbert Hoover established an organization to procure and deliver food to the starving Belgian population, rescuing a nation from certain ruin. Herbert Hoover wrote:

HERBERT HOOVER

"...there was no former human experience to turn for guidance. It would require that we find the major food supply for a whole nation; raise the money to pay for it; get it past navies at sea and occupying armies on land; set up an agency for distribution of supplies for everybody justly; and see that the enemy took none of it. It was not ‘relief’ in any known sense. It was the feeding of a nation.

THEO MAYER

This will later earn Herbert Hoover the job of heading the united states food administration… and of course he also becomes the 31st President of the United State

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline May 8, 1915

Headline of the NY times reads:

LUSITANIA SUNK BY SUBMARINE, PROBABLY 1,260 DEAD; TWICE TORPEDOED OFF IRISH COAST; SINKS IN 15 MINUTES; FROHMAN AND VANDERBILT MISSING; WASHINGTON BELIEVES THAT A

GRAVE CRISIS IS AT HAND

SONG:

WHEN THE LUSITANIA WENT DOWN

A thousand more, who sailed from our shore, Have gone to eternity.

The Statue of Liberty high

Must now have a tear in her eye. I think it's a shame--

Some one is to blame,

But all we can do is just sigh!

Chorus

Some of us lost a true sweetheart; Some of us lost a dear dad;

Some lost their mothers, sisters, and brothers; Some lost the best friends they had.

It's time they were stopping this warfare If women and children must drown.

Many brave hearts went to sleep in the deep When the Lusitania went down.

Refrain

Many brave hearts went to sleep in the deep When the Lusitania went down.

THEO MAYER

US neutrality faced numerous tests. Vying for control over shipping lanes across the Atlantic and through the North Sea, Germany and Britain both found themselves on a collision course with the United States. Britain, in their effort to blockade commerce from the US reaching Germany, seized American ships.

Germany, in retaliation to US shipments, introduced a new weapon of war – the U-Boat – which could strike without warning. In 1915, German U-Boats sank over 90 ships.

NARRATOR

Leading up to the Election of 1916, many Americans favored the Allies in the War, yet embraced President Wilson’s urging to remain “impartial in thought as well as in action.” At the time, one third of US citizens were either born in Europe or were descendants of European immigrants.

Sympathy for both countries on both sides of the conflict ran high.

The descendants of German immigrants found themselves torn, on the one hand identifying firstly as Americans, yet on the other, sympathizing with their relatives abroad. When the US entered the War, German-Americans were labeled “alien enemies” and faced severe restrictions on their civil liberties. Irish Americans preferred neutrality as well, as the prospect of the U.S. entering the War on the side of the British was an anathema to Irish nationalist sentiment.

The sinking of the Lusitania led many Americans to call for an immediate reprisal against Germany. Wilson proceeded with caution, demanding an apology, compensation for the victims and assurances that Germany would cease unrestricted submarine warfare. In a speech delivered at a Citizen Naturalization Ceremony on May 10, 1915, Wilson affirmed the anti-War US stance:

WILSON

“America must have this consciousness, that on all sides it touches elbows and touches hearts with all the nations of mankind. The example of America must be the example not merely of peace because it will not fight, but of peace because peace is the healing… influence of the world....

There is such a thing as a man being too proud to fight. There is such a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince others by force that it is right.”

NARRATOR

Wilson’s measured response faced opposition from figures like former President Theodore Roosevelt, who believed Germany’s aggression warranted a strong military response:

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

“I am pretty well disgusted with our government and with the way our people acquiesce in and support it. I suppose, however, in a democracy like ours the people will always do well or ill largely in proportion to their leadership. If Lincoln had acted after the firing on Sumter in the way that Wilson did about the sinking of the Lusitania, in one month the North would have been saying they were so glad he kept them out of the war and… that at all hazards fratricidal war must be averted.”

NARRATOR

Theodore Roosevelt’s words were not mere bluster. He would eventually see three of his sons off to war. Two would return alive. His youngest son, Quentin, died when he was shot down over France in 1918.

THEO MAYER

The conflict  about  US neutrality  didn't just rage in Washington, but was reflected throughout  american society and culture  - Here is the great debate playing out as musical counterpoint in two popular songs of the times sung from the hearts of two mothers.

SONG

MEDLEY: “I Didn’t Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier” - “America, Here’s My Boy”

Verse 1

There’s a million mothers knocking at the nation’s door

A million mothers, yes and they’ll be millions more,

And while within each mother’s heart they pray Just hark what one brave mother has to say:

Chorus

America, I raised a boy for you

America, you’ll find him staunch and true Place a gun upon his shoulder

He is ready to die or do

America, he is my only one;

My hope, my pride and joy,

But if I had another,

He would march beside his brother; America here’s my boy

Verse 2

There’s a million mothers waiting by the fireside bright

A million mothers waiting for the call tonight And while within each heart there’ll be a tear She’ll watch her boy go marching with a cheer

Chorus

America, I raised a boy for you

America, you’ll find him staunch and true Place a gun upon his shoulder

He is ready to die o

My hope, my pride and joy,

But if I had another,

He would march beside his brother; America here’s my boy.

Verse 1

Ten million soldiers to the war have gone Who may never return again

Ten million mothers’ hearts must break For the ones who died in vain

Head bowed down in sorrow in her lonely years I heard a mother murmur thro’ her tears:

Chorus:

“I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier,

I brought him up to be my pride and joy.” Who dares place a musket on his shoulder To shoot some other mother’s darling boy? Let nations arbitrate their future troubles, It’s time to lay the sword and gun away. There’d be no war today

If mothers all would say:

“I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier.”

Verse 2

What victory can cheer a mother’s heart When she looks at her blighted home? What victory can bring her back

All she cared to call her own?

Let each mother answer in the years to be, Remember that my boy belongs to me!

Chorus:

“I didn’t raise my boy to be a soldier,

I brought him up to be my pride and joy.” Who dares place a musket on his shoulder To shoot some other mother’s darling boy? Let nations arbitrate their future troubles, It’s time to lay the sword and gun away.

NARRATOR

At the other end of the political spectrum, the editors of the conservative North American Review

argued for U.S. participation:

THE EDITORS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW

We know now… what this war is. It is the last of the great battles for Freedom and Democracy. America fought the first a century and forty years ago. France followed through seas of blood and tears. But lately the Great Charter has passed… from the barons to the people of England. Japan has ceased to be a monarchy except in name. China as a Republic defies the power of might…. Can anyone doubt that the beginning of the end of absolutism is at hand….?

NARRATOR

Legendary newspaper reporter Walter Lippman offered this third-way assessment of the role America could play in the War:

WALTER LIPPMANN

In May 1916, the President made a speech which will be counted among the... decisive utterances of American foreign policy…. The speech was an announcement that American isolation was ended, and that we were prepared to join a League of Peace….. …it was intended to make clear to the world… that if America has to fight, it would fight for peace and the order of the world. It was a great portent in human history, but it was overshadowed at the time by the opening of the Presidential campaign.”

THEO MAYER

The United States, like Canada and the British Empire, absorbed a massive influx of immigrants from the end of the 19th Century through the war. Capitalizing on the idea that immigrants traveled to distant shores seeking freedom from tyranny, recruitment efforts in all three countries appealed to immigrants’ indebtedness – in exchange for their freedom, and their children’s freedom, they were urged to show their patriotism by enlisting in the fight.

“THERE’S NO HYPHEN IN MY HEART”

SONG

Verse 1

To these broad shores my fathers came From lands beyond the sea

They left their homes they left their friends To breathe an air more free

To them an alien land it seemed With customs strange and new

But my heart knows just one dear flag The Red, the White, the Blue

Chorus:

There is no hyphen in my heart It can’t be cut in two

Oh flag of bars and silver stars I’ve given it all to you

Verse 2

Columbia to me you’ve been A mother fond and true

My heart’s best love and loyal trust I gladly offer you

Let others sing of native lands Far o’er the ocean’s foam

The spot where floats the stars and stripes Shall ever be my home

Chorus:

There is no hyphen in my heart It can’t be cut in two

Oh flag of bars and silver stars I’ve given it all to you

NARRATOR

The 1916 election hinged on the question of America’s neutrality in the War. Wilson, running for a second term, built his candidacy around the idea that America ought to prepare for the possibility of war, yet the campaign slogans “He Kept Us Out of War” and “America First” persuaded the American public that a vote for the Republican candidate, Charles Evans Hughes, would be a vote for war. While many embraced the slogans, others criticized them. Teddy Roosevelt:

TEDDY ROOSEVELT

President Wilson’s ignoble shirking of responsibility has been mis-clothed in… the phrase of a coward, “He Kept Us Out of War.” In actual reality, war has been creeping nearer. . . and we face it without policy, plan, purpose, or preparation.

NARRATOR

In September 1916, Wilson accepted the Democratic nomination for President:

WILSON

“We have been neutral not only because it was the fixed and traditional policy of the United States to stand aloof from the politics of Europe… but also because it was manifestly our duty to prevent

… the indefinite extension of the fires of hate and desolation kindled by that terrible conflict and seek to serve mankind by reserving our strength and our resources for the… difficult days of restoration and healing …, when peace will have to build its house anew.”

NARRATOR

The Debate reached every corner of American society. Voices for and against the US joining the war included not only politicians, but men who would likely be called to serve, women, African Americans and Native Americans fighting for an equal role in American Civic life.

NARRATOR

American Arthur Bullard, who had lived in war-time France and England, wrote in early 1917:

ARTHUR BULLARD

Whatever the diplomats may like to call it, this is War. And we do not know how to fight…. We have no American general who ever commanded an Army corps, not one of our naval officers ever fought against a Dreadnought, none of our artillery men ever fired a real shot at an enemy aircraft. We must learn….

The war is upon us and we... must decide what we are going to do about it… We who love peace ought to keep out of war as long as possible and when we are forced to go in – go in hard!

NARRATOR

For women, the prospect of war also provoked debate. Many nurses of the American Red Cross nurses had experienced the tribulations of War first hand. Jane Delano, founder of the American Red Cross Nursing Service, wrote in the winter of 1915:

JANE DELANO

We have learned that women can be mobilized without confusion; that their chances of illness when ... seem to be no greater than men’s; that they face danger with equanimity…. Out of this experience we should be…. able to guarantee a satisfactory nursing personnel not only for national relief in time of calamity, but for efficient service should our country be confronted with that greatest of all disasters – War.

NARRATOR

A year later, Bessie R. James of the National League for Women’s Service wrote:

BESSIE R. JAMES

On November 8, 1916, the foresight of the women… is something which cannot but arouse admiration. That anyone should organize to prepare half the populace of the country for war while a president was being put back into office because of a supposed peace policy would seem ridiculous. This however, was exactly what happened.

NARRATOR

The first years of the War coincided with the beginning of The Great Migration, a transformative period for African Americans who fled the entrenched racism of the south for better wages and

living conditions in northern cities like Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit and New York. At the outbreak of war, many African Americans viewed service in the military as an opportunity to show their willingness to serve and improve on their standing as second-class citizens. Others were more skeptical. In a 1917 issue of The Messenger, Chandler Owen and A. Phillip Randolph challenged the hypocrisy of American democratic ideals in relation to African American struggle:

OWEN & RANDOLPH;

Patriotism has no appeal to us; justice has. Party has no weight with us; principle has.

NARRATOR

In his 1914 editorial, “World War and the Color Line,” W.E.B. Dubois drew connections between the crisis in Europe and the conditions experienced by African Americans at home:

W.E.B. DUBOIS

Many colored persons… may easily make the mistake of supposing that the present war is far removed from the color problem in America…. This attitude is a mistake. The present war in Europe is one of the great disasters due to race and color prejudice and it but foreshadows greater disasters in the future….

NARRATOR

As the likelihood of war increased in early 1917, DuBois again unleashed his pen to reflect on the institution of segregated training camps:

W.E.B. DUBOIS

We must choose then between the insult of a separate camp and the irreparable injury of strengthening the present custom of putting no black men in positions of authority

here is only one thing to do now, and that is to organize the colored people for leadership and service, if war should come. A thousand commissioned officers of colored blood is something to work for.

NARRATOR

Diplomat, lawyer, and official of the NAACP James Weldon Johnson called for an end to what he termed the “Excess Patriotism” which had led the world’s nations to war:

JOHNSON

It is this hot, high-tempered, foolish, bad-mannered patriotism that keeps farther away the day for which all lovers of humanity pray; the day when men shall not hate each other because of the boundaries of domain or the differences of race, but when universal brotherhood shall be established and a lasting peace shall reign.

ARE THEY EQUAL IN THE EYES OF THE LAW

SONG

Verse 1

As they sit in consultation

Seeking peace for the wide, wide world

I wonder if their thought e’er turn to me.

I was at the concentration of the troops that stopt the whirl Of the Kaiser in his dash to the sea.

As I sit in meditation Seeking solace from on high

I wonder if they see I stand in awe,

As they plan the federation for the races far and nigh Are they equal in the eyes of the law?

Chorus:

Are they equal in the eyes of the law?

The black man faced his death and cried, “Hurrah?” His soul was pure and white,

He fought a manly fight,

No more patriotic sons you ever saw Are they equal in the eyes of the law?

The black man faced his death and cried, “Hurrah?” They were the same in no man’s land,

Tell me how so they stand?

Are they equal in the eyes of the law?

Verse 3

God, the Father of creation, Hear, oh, hear my humble plea,

As with contrite heart I call thy holy name. In this land of desolation,

Where they lynch and torture me,

Keep them, Father, from this life of sin and shame. Oh thou God of restitution,

Though with vengeance in Thy hand,

We pray Thee, Keep us from grim hatred’s mighty claw Show them, Lord, that retribution,

Runs its course throughout the land,

To make men equal in the eyes of the law.

Chorus:

Are they equal in the eyes of the law?

The black man faced his death and cried, “Hurrah?” His soul was pure and white,

He fought a manly fight,

No more patriotic sons you ever saw Are they equal in the eyes of the law?

The black man faced his death and cried, “Hurrah?” They were the same to the God of the hosts,

Tell me in your Freedom’s boasts,

Are they equal in the eyes of the law?

NARRATOR

America’s native peoples overwhelmingly supported the United States during the Great War, although a few leaders such as Dr. Carlos Montezuma, a Yavapai-Apache, objected. He wrote:

CARLOS MONTEZUMA

They are not citizens. They have fewer privileges than have foreigners. They are wards of the United States of America without their consent or the chance of protest on their part.

NARRATOR

But most Indian leaders saw the conflict as an opportunity to gain recognition and to affirm tribal sovereignty, as did the Onondaga and Oneida Nations that declared war on Germany.

In 1917, Oglala Chief Red Fox, a nephew of Crazy Horse, went to Washington and urged Secretary of War Newton D. Baker, to offer the services of the Indians in the Great War:

CHIEF RED FOX

From all over the West, we now stand ready--fifty thousand Indians between the ages of seventeen and fifty-five. We beg of you, to give us the right to fight. We guarantee to you, sir, our hearts could be for no better cause than to fight for the land we love, and for the freedom we share.

NARRATOR

Chief Red Fox’s sentiments were echoed by the Seneca Arthur Parker, President of the Society of American Indians in 1917, who wrote:

ARTHUR PARKER

The American Indian has common cause with the Allies.  The Indian fights because he loves

freedom and because humanity needs the defense of the freedom loving man. The Indian fights because his country, his liberties, his ideals and his manhood are assailed by the brutal hypocrisy of Prussianism. Challenged, the Indian has... shown himself a citizen of the world, [and] an exponent of an ethical civilization wherein human liberty is assured.

NARRATOR

The outcome of the 1916 election reflected divisions in the country. Winning by a slim Electoral College margin, Wilson’s second term would soon face a series of crises that would determine the fate of his neutral position in the war.

NARRATOR - ALL READERS

While debate raged in America, the slaughter continued in Europe.

Rapid advances in the technology of weapons of war led to vast devastation. For the first time in history the battlefield saw the use of tanks, chemical weapons, machine guns, long-range artillery and aircraft.

Sixty five million men fought in the War from 40 countries. Twenty one million were wounded.

Eight million died – roughly 3,000 every day.

Six and a half million civilians were killed including two million in Russia alone.

One hundred and ten thousand tons of poison gas was used, killing nearly half a million men.

In Europe alone, approximately 10 million people were displaced by the war, including 1.8 million Armenians forcibly deported to the Syrian desert. 1.5 million Belgians were refugees from the Germans.

In the Battle of Somme, fought between July and November of 1916, 1.2 million men perished for a meager Allied gain of 7.8 miles of territory.

During the Battle of Somme, it is estimated that in the first week of fighting over one and one half million artillery shells were fired… almost three shells per second for 168 continuous hours. (NEED THIS STATISTIC!!)

Never before had humankind unleashed terror on this scale and it’s effects permanently scarred

the landscape and the souls of those who were there.

THEO MAYER

And that is the end of  part 1 of “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace”

Join us again next week for part II

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1;

Our podcast is a part of that endeavor

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

If you like the work we are doing, please support it with a tax deductible donation at ww1cc.org/donate - all lower case

Or if you are on your smart phone text  the word: WW1 to 41444. that's the letters ww the number 1 texted to 41444. Any amount is appreciated.

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thanks for listening to this special presentation of WW1 Centennial News…

A full list of the many talented people who contributed to this production is in the podcast notes.

[MUSIC]

So long.

• Life inside German Occupied Belgium |@ 03:15

And more...----more----

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is September 6th, 2017 and our guests this week are:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,   

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

Before we get started today, we wanted to let you know that next week and the week following, we will be presenting a WW1 Centennial News 2-part Special -  “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace”.

Part 1 examines the great debate in America about getting into the war, and Part 2, which will publish the following week is about how events overtook the debate and brought us to a declaration of war.

But for today, we are in our regular format and ready to jump into episode #36.

[MUSIC TRANSITION]

We’ve gone back in time 100 years to explore the war that changed the world! It’s the first week of September 1917.

On the last day of August  New York Deputy Attorney General Roscoe Conkling certifies that New York City has fulfilled its quota of 38,572 soldiers for the draft.

This is notable because the last time there was a draft in New York - for the civil war - it ended in the deadly Draft Riots of 1863.  

The 1917 draft, however, goes smoothly - mostly!  

Turns out that one of the local boards is selling exemptions- which was permitted in the Civil War draft AND coincidentally  - one the flash points  for Draft Riots. In any case, in 1917 - it is seriously NOT OK.

The first draftees are scheduled to leave for training at Camp Upton (now the site of Brookhaven National Laboratory) on September 10th - the camp is so new that the first men to arrive are going to get to help finish building it.

The men trained at Camp Upton starting September 1917, will become the 77th Division, which will be the first division of draftees to arrive in France.

Link: http://today-in-wwi.tumblr.com/post/164847897103/new-york-city-fulfills-draft-quota

[SOUND EFFECT - WHOOSH]

Moving to the headlines and stories from the Official Bulletin - America’s War Gazette published daily by the Committee on Public Information, the US government propaganda ministry headed by George Creel - this week we have pulled a variety of stories that mark what was happening this week 100 years ago.

[SOUND EFFECT - TRANSITION - ]

Dateline: September 9th, 1917

Headline: LIFE UNBEARABLE lN BELGIUM, SAYS WORKMAN WHO ESCAPED

The following story provides some insight into life inside German occupied Belgium:

The story reads:

I had to leave the seaside place where I had lived since my childhood, because life became unbearable. It was slavery.

“The Germans announced, at the beginning of January last, that every man or woman from 15 to 60 would be compelled to work for them. They did not take everybody at once, but once you had begun to work for them, you were never left free again.

In order to avoid people escaping to an other parts of the country, they obliged us all to go to the command center, where our identity cards and passports were confiscated. As you can not walk a mile in the army zone without showing your papers we were practically prisoners.

“Every week an officer with two soldiers went from house to house requisitioning more laborers.

They had taken 300 already from my village when I left; I have no doubt that the whole village is forced to work by now.

The work was done either on the spot, where you had to repair and clean buildings, cut wood, and so on.,

or along the Dutch frontier, where we had to build trenches and concrete works,

or behind the German llnes in the region of Westende, where we were mainly employed in building roads and railway lines.

This was by far the worst place since we were frequently exposed to shell fire and to gas attacks. Having no masks we were obliged- to take shelter when a bell rang to warn us.

We were paid 1 mark per day, but as the food was very scarce we had practically to spend our wages to appease our hunger, so that, when we came back home for one day every three weeks, we had practically nothing left to bring back to our families.

“ It was no use trying to protest. It only meant more trouble and misery, prison and blows. One of my friends who struggled to escape was nearly killed by a bayonet thrust.

“Besides, the Germans are only too glad if you resist. They have made a rule to send any man or woman who gets more than three months’ imprisonment back to Germany . And none of those who have been deported have ever come back.

Six months ago one of my neighbors, a widow, who had to protect her daughter against a German officer, received four months for having shouted that all Germans were pigs.

She was sent to Germany and we have heard since that she is obliged to work in a labor camp and has no hope of returning. This is only one case among hundreds.

The German tribunals have provided many Belgian workers for the Fatherland

This next story is a lot lighter - and truly a story of the times. With the airplane providing the enemy with a level of unprecedented intel, a new military assignment surfaced as a key man role - that of “magician”  - Sort of….

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: Sept 5th 1917

Headline: Ingenious men who can cast magic veil of invisibility over military works wanted for service with army in france

The story reads:

The first American Camouflage company is now being organized for service.

In official English, the camoufleure“ practices the art of military concealment,"

but a more literal translation of the French music-hall phrase,

for that is what it is, proves him to be a “ fakir.”

Now this has developed to a point where specialists in all manner of devices for concealing the whereabouts and designs of our troops from the eyes of the enemy are grouped together in military units.

Therefore, the Chief of Engineers in the War Department is looking for handy and ingenious men who are ready to fight one minute and practice their trade the next.

Wherever a machine is set up, or a trench is taken and reversed, or a battery of artillery goes into action, or a new road is opened. or a new bridge is built, or a sniper climbs an old building, or an officer creeps out into an advanced post to hear and to observe,

there...  must go the camouflage man to spread his best imitation of the magic veil of invisibility. There is in store for our camoufleurs, plenty of excitement and no end of opportunity to use their wits.

The article goes on to tell about some examples including pappier-Mache steel line counterfeits of dead horses serving as observing posts - or of a river-painted canvas pulled over a bridge by day - and used as a crossing by dead of night.

The article closes with:

Though this work has long been organized abroad, in this land it is only beginning, so wherever ingenious young men are longing for special entertainment in the way of fooling Germans, they should waste no time in getting in touch with the Chief of Engineers, War Department, Washington, D.C.

Our next story will be particularly interesting to our regular listeners - If you heard last week’s episode # 35, we profiled the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials project in Muscle Shoals Alabama, where you heard all about the giant Ammonium Nitrate plants they built there. This week - 100 years ago, there is a story in the Official Bulletin that precedes what you learned last week.

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: September 6, 1917

Headline: PREPARATIONS FOR PRODUCTION OF NITRATES BY

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED BY WAR DEPARTMENT;

LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED PLANT IS WITHHELD

The story goes on to explain how the creation of the plants is a priority project for the government war effort, but the location is still secret.

But YOU know where they are going to put it!! You even know about the giant Hydro-electric plant they are going to build as a part of it!

Isn’t history fun...

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: September 8, 1917

Headline: Red Cross to Communicate Messages About Persons in Central Powers’ Territory

The Red Cross plays an ever more important and diverse role in the complexity of this global crisis.

In this case, it is not nursing the wounded but helping acquaintances, families and loved ones torn apart and separated by the ravages of war.

The article goes on to read:

Individuals wishing to make inquiries concerning the welfare and whereabouts of friends or relatives in territory ‘belonging to or occupied by the central powers, may communicate with the Bureau of Communication, American Red Cross, Washington, D. C.

Proper inquiries and messages will be transmitted on a special form to the International Red Cross in Geneva. From Geneva, they will be forwarded to the individuals for whom they are intended.

Answers will be returned to the International Red Cross and by them will be

sent to Washington. The American Red Cross will then communicate the information received to writers of the original letters.

Two 2-cent stamps must be enclosed for postage. A similar method is being devised for the transmission of inquiries from the central powers to America.

This will also be handled by the Red Cross.

The articles concludes with a number of details and safeguards to assure that the communication network will not be used to send covert messages.

And our last story this week from the Official Bulletin harkens back to a story we told you in episode #26 about Chautauqua - The word "chautauqua" is Iroquois and means "two moccasins tied together" - At  the turn of the previous century the term was aptly used to signify a unique American “gathering” that brought entertainment and culture into far flung regional communities of the time, with speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, preachers and specialists of the day.  

Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying that Chautauqua is "the most American thing in America."

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: September 8, 1917

Headline: Chautauqua entertainers to be sent to cantonments

TM Voice:

The war Department can't complete the theaters they had planned for the tens of thousands of men being sent to the training camps - RIGHT NOW! So instead - they are going to create an entertainment system using the traditional American Chautauqua!

The article goes on to explain:

Entertainment for the soldiers will Begin September 10.

In four days 10 tents, each with a seating capacity of over 3,000, will be moved to cantonments and programs will be given beginning Monday,

The week following, the entire 32 cantonments will be equipped with similar tent auditoriums  - in which programs will be given.

The new project involves the mobilization of a force of over 2,000 lyceum [LYCEEUM] and chautauqua~entertainers and the creation of tents with an aggregate seating capacity of more than 100,000 people in the short space of less than two weeks.

The economics affected by pursuing the chautauqua method of circuiting attractions makes it possible to give the best entertainment to soldier: at motion picture prices.

And those are some of the stories we selected from the nearly 100 stories published in this week’s issues of the Official Bulletin. You’ll find the official bulletin on the Commission’s website at ww1cc.org/bulletin where we are re-publishing this amazing resource on the centennial anniversary of each issue’s publication date.

So If this podcast just isn’t enough weekly WW1 history for you - dig in daily - Go to our website and read the full daily issues of the Official Bulletin at ww1cc.org/bulletin. I sometimes do… and it makes me feel a whole lot better about the chaos in our modern world by tapping into the even more chaotic world 100 years ago this week!

[SOUND EFFECT]

Next we are joined by Mike shuster, former NPR correspondent and curator for the Great War Project blog.

Today Mike’s post highlights the beginning of American actions “over there” with a series of memorable incidents and stories including the sinking of submarine U-88 whose captain sank the Lusitania in 1915.

Welcome Mike!

[Mike Shuster]

Thank you Mike. That was Mike Shuster from the Great War Project blog with an interesting collection of anecdotes from the front 100 years ago this week..

LINK:http://greatwarproject.org/2017/09/03/first-americans-killed-in-france/

For videos about WW1, visit our friend at the Great War Channel on Youtube - They have well over 400 episodes about WW1 - covering the conflict since 2014 - and from a more European perspective.

This week’s new episodes include:

• The Moscow State Conference

Follow the link in the podcast notes or search for “the great war” on youtube.

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

[SOUND EFFECT]

We have moved forward in time to the present…

Welcome to WW1 Centennial News NOW  - This part of the program is not about history but how the centennial of the War that changed the world is being commemorated today.

[Sound Effect]

For our Activities and Events Section, we are going profile 2 events -  selected from the U.S. National WW1 Centennial Events Register at WW1CC.org/events where are compiling and recording the WW1 Commemoration events from around the country- not just from major metros but also local events from the heart of the country- showing how the WW1 Centennial Commemoration is playing out everywhere.

Camp Doughboy

Our Major Metro pick of the week is Camp Doughboy, the Second Annual WWI History Weekend - this is an immersive, weekend-long, Living History experience on Governors Island in New York City happening on September 16th and 17th.

According to Kevin Fitzpatrick - Author and citizen historian who helped put the event together - it promises to be the largest WW1 themed event on the East Coast this year.

It all starts with a ferry ride to historic Fort Jay at Governors Island National Monument in New York Harbor. Entry to the event is free and open to the public. There will be more than fifty reenactors, vintage WWI-era vehicles, free talks by leading authorities of the Great War and much more. It is a family oriented event that is sure to create a memorable experience all about  the war that changed the world — and gave birth to modern America.

A link to register to participate is included in the podcast notes along with all the information you need to have a great time at Camp Doughboy.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3005-governors-island-to-host-camp-doughboy-wwi-weekend-sept-16-17.html

https://www.facebook.com/events/102616516879089/

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/47016/camp-doughboy-world-war-one-history-weekend.html

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wwi-history-weekend-tickets-35527041337

http://ww1cc.org/events

[SOUND EFFECT]

Pershing Days

Interview with Alicyn and Denzil Pershing Days and Black Jack

Our Second event pick of the week is from Laclede Missouri.

We have with us today two guests to tell us about an upcoming annual event celebrating the life and service of General Pershing.

Alicyn Ehrich secretary of the Pershing Park Memorial Association, and Denzil Heaney, the administrator of the Gen. Pershing Boyhood Home site - which is part of the missouri state parks system.

They are here to tell us more about Pershing Days, an annual event in Laclede, Missouri, hometown of the General of the Armies, John J. Pershing. The event will be celebrated this year on Sept. 13th, the weekend closest to the general’s birthday. Additionally, this year, a new documentary, Black Jack, will be making its debut on Sunday, Sept. 17th following activities on the 15th & 16th.

Welcome, Alicyn, Denzil!

[exchange greetings]

[Alicyn, can you give our listeners an overview of what happens during Pershing Days? And how long has it been an annual tradition?]

[Denzil, can you tell us a bit about the film Black Jack? A lot of it was filmed in Laclede, right?]

Thank you Alicyn, Denzil!

That was Alicyn Ehrich and Denzil Heaney talking about Pershing Days in Laclede Missouri and the new Pershing Documentary - Black Jack.  Learn more by following the links in the podcast notes.

link:https://www.facebook.com/events/1028019170662151

https://theprgroup.org/events/event-calendar/#!event/2017/9/15/pershing-days-2017

https://vimeo.com/213096489

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gen-John-J-Pershing-Boyhood-Home-State-Historic-Site/112342615444100

https://mostateparks.com/park/gen-john-j-pershing-boyhood-home-state-historic-site

https://www.facebook.com/ThePershingProject/

$10,000 Research Grant on WWI science and technology

[SOUND EFFECT]

This week in our Education section we’ve got something very special for the budding researchers in our audience - a shot at $10,000.

There is a new academic competition that was announced for scholars under the age of 30. In this competition you can apply to research and write a paper on a major aspect of how scientists and engineers in the United States were engaged in the World War I effort. You know, this was one of the most vervent times for technology, science, engineering and medicine - ever! And so the Richard Lounsbery Foundation has funded this academic competition.

Five scholars will be chosen and awarded $5,000 each to conduct their research. Additionally, the winner of the competition will be awarded a $10,000.00 prize. Proposals are due by November 30th, so spread the word! And check out the link in the podcast notes for how to participate in this program run by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the National Research Council.

link:https://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/ww1/index.htm

And now for our feature --- “Speaking World War 1 --- Where we  explore today’s words & phrases that are rooted in the war  ---

This week the word is “Cooties”

You might remember the taunting chants of your classmates as a child, accusing you of having cooties. Or maybe cooties were the reason you gave for why you didn’t like girls - or boys - or whatever. Personally, as a kid my english was pretty bad and had no idea why everyone laughed at me when I asked for chocolate chip cooties. Just kidding.

The term cooties goes back to World War 1, when soldiers lived in horrific conditions that included being covered with lice. Indeed, using a lighter to burn lice and their eggs out of the seams of clothing was a daily pastime for many. As a nickname for body lice, cooties first appeared in trench slang in 1915. It’s apparently derived from the coot, a species of waterfowl known for being infested with lice and other parasites. I bet you did NOT know that!

Cooties-- you don’t want em… and this week’s word for Speaking WW1!

See the podcast notes if you really need to know more than that!

link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooties

http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2015/11/06/where_did_the_word_cooties_come_from.html

[SOUND EFFECT]

Jim Yocum - Santa Monica High School Auditorium

Next, we are going to profile another 100 Cities / 100 Memorials project. That is our $200,000 matching grant giveaway to rescue ailing WW1 memorials. Last week we profiled a project from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This week, we head to Santa Monica, California.

Joining us is Jim Yocum, Past Commander of Squadron 283 of the Sons of the American Legion

Welcome, Jim!

[exchange greetings]

[Jim - a lot of our listeners know about the American Legion - but may not know about the Sons of the American Legion - would you please give us a quick heads up on that…]

[OK on to your project - you’re team is refurbishing a memorial plaque in Santa Monica, CA - tell us about the project?]

Thank you for the great work you and your Squadron are doing Jim!

[responds]

That was Jim Yocum, Past Commander of Squadron 283 of the Sons of the American Legion.

We will continue to profile the submitting teams and their unique and amazing projects on the show over the coming months. Learn more about the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program at ww1cc.org/100memorials or follow the link in the podcast notes.

Link: www.ww1cc.org/100memorials

Radio Interview

This week for our Spotlight in the Media section, we’d like to direct you to CBS Radio's ConnectingVets.com

On their September 5th “The Morning Briefing” they featured a segment on the WW1 Centennial

Chris Isleib, the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, and I joined host Eric Dehm for a great conversation about the WW1 Centennial, including upcoming events and this very podcast. Take a listen with the link in the podcast notes.

link:http://www1.play.it/audio/connecting-vets/

[SOUND EFFECT]

For our Articles and Posts segment - where we explore the World War One Centennial Commission’s rapidly growing website at ww1cc.org - now over 3,000 pages of articles, information and stories - our first highlight is a new article about an often overlooked part of our military-- the coast guard.

Phil Eaton - US Coast Guard

The Coast Guard and its aviators played a vital role in World War I.

In 1916, Congress authorized the Coast Guard to develop an aviation branch, including aircraft, air stations and pilots.

Historically, the Coast guard was originally with the Treasury Department - you know - to catch pirates and smugglers - For WW1, they get put under the U.S. Navy and today after 9/11 - they are part of Homeland security.

We invite you to read the story about a Commanding Officer of a Coast Guard Naval Air Station, Phil Eaton --- who led the first fight between the U.S. coast guard naval aviation and a German U-Boat menace in U.S. waters. Learn more about Phil and his other contributions as one of the Coast Guard first aviators --- by following the link in the podcast notes.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3068-phil-eaton-the-coast-guard-s-winged-warrior-of-wwi.html

www.ww1cc.org/news

OK it’s time for an update for our WWRITE blog, which explores WWI’s Influence on contemporary writing and scholarship, this week's post is: “Champagne, "champagne," and World War I”

This article is for literature, history, and, yes, champagne lovers.

Motivation for weary WWI soldiers? Champagne.

In 1915, the French government voted to send "champagne," the bubbly, celebratory drink, as a morale booster to the troops. Meanwhile, Champagne, the French region and source of the world's most elegant wine symbolizing celebration and peace, amassed severe wounds as a strategic point on Western Front.

Don't miss this well-researched, insightful post written by journalist, Marsha Dubrow --- about the region, its signature drink --- and what happened to it during WWI

. À votre santé!

Link: www.ww1cc.org.wwrite

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/articles-posts/3069-champagne-champagne-and-world-war-i.html

That brings us to the buzz - the centennial of WW1 this week in social media with Katherine Akey - Katherine - You have two articles to tell us about today - Take it away!

Camo Man

A great example of camouflage from The Great War Channel

link:https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatWarYT/photos/a.653030651457682.1073741828.636345056459575/1430994273661312/?type=3&theater

The Lost Sketchbook

A new book about a young artist who served during WW1

Link:http://www.thelostsketchbooks.com/

Thank you Katherine.

And that is WW1 Centennial News for this week.

We want to thank our guests:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog with an interesting series of anecdotes from 100 years ago this week.

And I am Theo Mayer - your host.

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1; This program is a part of that….

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

If you like the work we are doing, please support it with a tax deductible donation at ww1cc.org/donate - all lower case

Or if you are on your smart phone text  the word: WW1 to 41444. that's the letters ww the number 1 texted to 41444. Any amount is appreciated.

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thanks for joining us. And don’t forget to share the stories you are hearing here with someone about the war that changed the world!

[music]

Did you know that Cooties were also known as "arithmetic bugs"

It true - because "they added to your troubles, subtracted from your pleasures, divided your attention, and multiplied like hell."

So long!

• Please donate to the Hurricane Harvey victims |@ 01:00

And more...----more----

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 THEN - what was happening 100 years ago  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is August 30th, 2017 and our guests this week are:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,   

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

Harvey

Before we start the show today, we wanted to take a moment for the people of Texas struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Here is Dan Dayton the Executive Director of the WW1 Centennial Commission

[DAN DAYTON]

There are several links for donating to the relief effort in the podcast notes.

link:https://www.uwtexas.org/hurricane-harvey

https://give.salvationarmyusa.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app362b?df_id=27651&mfc_pref=T&27651.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=7D83ADF3DC5B202D97E48EC4DA2D792D

http://www.redcross.org/hp/harvey3

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It really was a world war. In part, what made WWI  so immediately global was the “imperial” mindset of the times. Everyone thought in terms of empires - global and regional conquest, possessions, colonies, holdings, opportunities and international allies and bringing all that baggage into the fray.

[MUSIC TRANSITION]

We’ve gone back in time 100 years to explore the war that changed the world!

It is August 1917 and on the 14th of august, China declares war on Germany. So that got us thinking, here at WW1 Centennial News - about an Asia focused segment -  and this is it.

Quick quiz! OK, China declares war on Germany - But is Japan in the war? An what side are they on?

[ticking - buzzer]

That’s right - in WW1 Japan is ALSO on the side of the allies.

This week 100 years ago, a Japanese Delegation comes to America headed by Viscount Ishii, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan. This prompts a number of articles in the Official Bulletin - America’s War Gazette created by the order of the President and published daily by George Creel, America’s propaganda chief.

[SOUND EFFECT Radio and telegraph]

Dateline: Monday August 27, 1917

Headline: Japanese Mission Pays Homage to George Washington, “He Belongs to All Mankind” Declares Viscount Ishii

As the diplomat placed a wreath on the tomb of America’s first president, he declares:

In the name of my gracious sovereign, the Emperor of Japan, and representing all the liberty-loving people who own his sway, I stand to-day in this sacred presence, not to eulogize the name of Washington, for that were presumption, but to offer the simple tribute of a people’s reverence and lové.

The Day’s events began with a speech by Secretary of the Navy Daniels who recalled the visit to Japan by Admiral Perry a half a century earlier and couches it - NOT as gunboat diplomacy - but as the beginnings of a friendship between the nations.

Later, Secretary and' Mrs. Daniels host the Japanese mission, at  Mount Vernon.

The story goes on to list the guests who attend, including the 20 Japanese dignitaries and 60 odd American navy, diplomatic and political invited guests.

Near the end of the week, Viscount Ishii is invited to address a special session of the US Senate:

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Dateline: Friday August 31, 1917

Headline: Viscount Ishii tells senate: “japan Took Up Arms Against Germany Because Our Solemn Treaty With Britain Was Not to Us, just a Scrap of Paper”

Viscount Ishii speech included:

To us, the fact that you, [the United State],  are now on the side of the allies in this titanic struggle, constitutes already a great moral victory for our common cause, which we believe to be the cause of right and justice, for the strong,  as for the weak… for the great, as for the small.

We of Japan believe We understand something of the American ideal of life. and we pay our most profound respects to it. Jefferson, your great democratic President, conceived the ideal of an American Commonwealth to be not a rule imposed on the people by force of arms, but as a free expression of the individual sentiments of that people.

Jefferson saw Americans as a myriad of independent and free men, as individuals... only relying on a combined military force for protection against aggression from abroad or treachery from within.

In fact, the treaty he refers to means Japanese and the Brits have been besties since signing in 1902 - So - So on August 23, 1914 - 103 years ago (aside) - and - this is less than a month after war breaks out in Europe, Japan formally declares war on Germany and Austria/Hungary  -

Here’s the deal they made - Even in 1914, the Japanese Imperial Navy is no slouch - so they agree to protect England and France’s interests in the

Asia-Pacific-region, and in return, Japan gets to snag all the German territories in Asia as well as German pacific Islands.

So the first thing the Japan does … even before they declare war… is to target a big German colony port in China… Tsingtao.

Yes.. There is a connection… German beer… German breweries… German Chinese territories… and today’s great chinese beer brand.

Prost… Gānbēi.

Next, as per the agreement, Japan goes after the German colonies in the Pacific, making short work out of capturing the Mariana, Caroline and Marshall Islands. This kind of freaks out the Allies including the United States… although we weren’t at war yet. This Imperial Japanese Navy is performing just a little too well for our comfort.

It just isn’t natural in the western cultural thinking of the time - with its deep seated bigotry and ignorance - to believe that an asian navy might be world class. But it is!

Their support extends to europe….

By 1917, the on-going slaughter on the Western Front means that a constant stream of reinforcements is needed. If the Mediterranean route is squeezed shut, - by Uboats - the French and British Empire-troops would need to go all the way around the southern tip of Africa. So the Japanese Imperial Navy sends a fleet to the mediterranean to help with escort duties. Based in Malta they protect Allied shipping between Marseilles, France, taranto, Italy and Egyptian ports.   

By the end of the war, Japan’s Second Special Squadron has escorted 788 ships across the Mediterranean, safely transporting more than 700,000 troops to the Western Front.

Reportedly, several Japanese commanders commit Hari-Kari after ships under their protection are lost. They do have a powerful sense of duty!

So by 100 years ago this month, on August 14, 1917, - three years after Japan - China declares war on Germany - How come!?

Well, China declares itself neutral at the outset of the war, but also wants to show solidarity with the allies. Unable to send men to fight, they sent men to help.

By the end of the war, Chinese workers rank as the largest and longest-serving non-European contingent in World War I.

There are complex politics surrounding their role and the Chinese Labor force  - But perhaps most important -as China sees America entering the fray, it wants to earn itself a place at the post-war bargaining table.

Top of the list for china is to regain control over the vital Shantung Peninsula.. That poky little part in the yellow sea across from Korea that Japan grabbed at the start of the war…  You know, where Tsingtao is located - China wants to reassert its strength over Japan, which is it’s big , aggressive adversary and rival in the region.

At the Versailles Peace Conference following the armistice, the Allied Supreme Council—dominated by the United States, France and Britain - are divvying up the world… Japan and China are both there lobbying hard —about their respective claims to the Shantung Peninsula.

Meanwhile - Japan introduces another idea into the mix. They propose racial equality language to be included in the league of nations charter:

Their proposed language read:

“The equality of nations being a basic principle of the League of Nations, the High Contracting Parties, agree to accord, as soon as possible, to all alien nationals of states and members of the League, equal and just treatment in every respect making no distinction, either in law or in fact, on account of their race or nationality.”

A bargain is eventually struck with Japan, but not really to their liking!

They go home pretty angry and humiliated. The racial equality clause is shut down -

but --- in compensation - they get to keep some German submarines and the Shantung peninsula. Some historians noted that both sides see one another as unacceptably arrogant and bigoted…

It’s worth noting that the next time we see Japan at war it will not be as an allie.

And that is a quick overview of some of what happened in Asia 100 years ago

in the war that changed the world.

We have a bunch of references and links in the podcast notes.

links:

japan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_during_World_War_I

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/japan-gives-ultimatum-to-germany

https://owlcation.com/humanities/World-War-1-History-Japanese-Navy-in-the-Mediterranean

Vietnam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Vietnam_during_World_War_I

http://online.wsj.com/ww1/ho-chi-minh

China

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/china-declares-war-on-germany

https://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2010/04/china_and_first_world_war

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TofCRaOBWZ0

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/surprisingly-important-role-china-played-world-war-i-180964532/#sI6lZYkfTdSGsmBA.99

More generally

http://thediplomat.com/2014/07/east-asias-lessons-from-world-war-i/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_and_Pacific_theatre_of_World_War_I

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Next we are joined by Mike shuster, former NPR correspondent and curator for the Great War Project blog.

Today Mike’s post takes us to the Aegean sea and the port town of Salonika, an allied stronghold in Greece - across the sea from Turkey. On August 27th, 100 years ago this week a major event strikes the city.

Welcome Mike!

[Mike Shuster]

Thank you Mike. That was Mike Shuster from the Great War Project blog.

LINK:http://greatwarproject.org/2017/08/27/idyllic-greek-city-consumed-by-fire/

For videos about WW1, visit our friend at the Great War Channel on Youtube - They have well over 400 episodes about WW1 - covering the conflict since 2014 - and from a more European perspective.

This week’s new episodes include:

• The second battle of Verdun

both from the Great War Channel’s recent trip to England

Follow the link in the podcast notes or search for “the great war” on youtube.

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

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We have moved forward in time to the present…

Welcome to WW1 Centennial News NOW  - This part of the program is not about history but how the centennial of the War that changed the world is being commemorated today.

[Sound Effect]

I’d like to start by spending a little time on U.S. National WW1 Centennial Events Register itself.

One of the tasks of the commission is to record and archive what America is going to commemorate the centennial of the War that Changed the World.

So we built a US National Events register for that purpose at ww1cc.org/events - all lower case.

Then we created two programs to feed it.

One is a big red button that anyone can click and submit their event to the national register.

That does two things.

FIRST - It gets your event listed in the National Register and

THEN - It puts your event into the permanent national archive for what transpired during the US WWI centennial - This is a permanent archive that will live on long after the centennial itself passes. In theory, when the US prepare the bi-centennial another century from now, your commemoration idea and event will be part of that record for the 2117 team to reference.

The second program we created is for state centennial organizations, museums, libraries, universities and others who are holding a number of WW1 themed centennial events over the period.

If you are one of those organizations, we have a special publishing partner program where we will train you, and give you direct access to the register - so you can post your WW1 events directly into it.

If you would like to avail yourself of that program go to “contact” in the menu on any page of our website at ww1cc.org and send us a request .

And perhaps most important of all -  for those of you just wondering what WW1 themed events are happening in your area --- currently I counted around 70 on-going and 45 single day events. That is around 115 different events going on around the country on most any day.

And we think that is only a fraction of what is actually going on. So pass the word, if you are doing WW1 related events - Big or small - get them into the register and let our community of interest, and history know what you are doing to commemorate the centennial of World War I.

The link to the U.S. National WW1 Centennial Events Register is in the podcast notes.

link:

http://ww1cc.org/events

North Dakota

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This week in our Updates from the States section - we want to highlight a very special gathering in North Dakota

On September 10th during the final day of the 48th Annual United Tribes Technical College International Powwow, an annual gathering of some five to ten thousand individuals - they are going to focus on native americans and WW1. Susan Mennenga from the Pritzker Military Museum and library - and World War One Centennial Commissioner Terry Hamby will be on hand for the ceremony.

We have with us today Dr. Leander “Russ” McDonald, United Tribes Technical College president.

Welcome, Russ!

[Exchange Greetings]

[Russ, the Native American Role in WW1 was profound - both in terms of indian nations independently declaring war on Germany - as sovereign nations - and Native Americans volunteering as soldiers. Can you give our audience an overview?]

[What do you think was the most profound effect of WW1 on the Native American Community?]

[On September 10th, during the 48th annual UTTC International Powwow there is a remembrance and honoring of native american WW1 warriors. Can you tell us about that please…]

[Russ, thank you for coming on the show]

That was “Russ” McDonald, United Tribes Technical College president and host for the 48th annual UTTC International Powwow.

There are links to the event in the podcast notes.

link:http://www.uttc.edu/news/uttc-powwow-feature-honoring-wwi-native-servicemen

And now our “Speaking World War 1 feature - Where we  explore today’s words & phrases that are rooted in the war  ---

This week’s  phrase is “Field Day”

Today, one might say that the “Hollywood Press” had a field day when rumours broke out that Angelina and Brad broke up.

The way it is used now, the phrase “to have a field day” means an opportunity for action, success, or excitement.

But the phrase originates from the military. It was used in the literal sense, for a day spent in the field, doing maneuvers, exercises and drills. This was particularly true during WW1 when  A LOT of men got A LOT of training exercises... A marine corp barracks might have sounded like this:

Alright gentlemen, grab your packs, your rifles and your sorry butts - today we are having a field day - starting with a 4 mile run. Move out! You maggots.

Field Day… A big event - now and then!

The earliest references go back all the way to 1747.

see the the podcast notes for more

link: http://www.theidioms.com/field-day/

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/field_day

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Joel Mize 100 cities

Next, we are going to profile another 100 Cities / 100 Memorials project. That is our $200,000 matching grant giveaway to rescue ailing WW1 memorials. Last week we profiled a brand new memorial going up in Fort Towson, Oklahoma complete with a newly commission doughboy statue. This week, we head to Sheffield, Alabama for a project that honors those who died in the Northwest Alabama region known as muscle shoals.

Joining us is Joel Mize, Steering Committee Chairman for the 101 Memorial project. Welcome, Joel!

[exchange greetings]

[Joel - your projects honors 101 individuals who died as a result of WW1, but not on the battlefields of Europe - but in serving the nation as Civilian defense workers in a manufacturing plant,  Would you share their story with us please?]

[Joel - in putting this project together - what do you think is the most memorable thing that has happened to you and your team?]

Thank you joel!

That was Joel Mize, Steering Committee Chairman for the 101 Memorial project in Sheffield, Alabama.

We will continue to profile the submitting teams and their unique and amazing projects on the show over the coming months. Learn more about the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program at ww1cc.org/100memorials or follow the link in the podcast notes.

Link: www.ww1cc.org/100memorials

https://www.alabamapioneers.com/sheffield-alabama-has-a-historic-village-laid-out-in-the-form-of-the-liberty-bell/

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In our “Remember the veterans” section, today we wanted to feature one of the many Stories of Service collected on our website at ww1cc.org/stories where you are invited to tell us about the WW1 stories of service from your family or a just a story you have uncovered.

With us today is Chris Connelly from Dayton, Ohio who submitted the story of his grandfather Peter Alphonse Connelly who served with the United States Marine Corps 5th Regiment.

Peter was drafted into the Marine Corps, becoming a Rifle Expert during training before deploying for france in February 1918.

He returned home with a Croix de Guerre for his bravery in battle; interestingly, Peter was an avid photographer and returned home with not only medals but many wonderful photos.

Welcome, to the show Chris!

[Exchange greetings]

[Chris, we have a link in the podcast notes about Peter Connelly and the story you submitted about him - - but I wanted to learn a little more about how you went about putting the story together - Where did you find the materials? ]

[What made you decide to submit Peter’s story to our Stories of Service archive?]

What is the Marine Corps muster roll? Where can people find it?

[What is the most memorable thing for you in putting this together?]

[Have you shared your findings about Peter with the rest of your family? What was their response?]

[What advice would you give to others wanting to investigate their own family connection to WW1?]

Thank you, that was Chris Connolly - who submitted a Story of Service about his grandfather US Marine Corps WW1 veteran Peter Alphonse Connelly.

For those of you interested in your ancestors who served, we have very exciting news - We are linking up with The Roll of Honor Foundation, a nonprofit charity with the mission of honoring the military service of the men and women of America’s Armed Forces, educating the public about their legacy and encouraging public service among the next generation.

We are in the middle of integrating our Stories of Service and their database of WW1 veterans which will add your story of service to the Roll of Honor. You’ll also be able to purchase a tribute wreath for you veteran on their profile, which will go directly to funding the national WW1 Memorial in Washington DC honoring all our WW1 veterans.

We will have more details on this for you over the coming weeks.

The links Peter Connolly’s story, the stories of Service and the Roll of Honor are all in the podcast notes.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/family-ties/stories-of-service/2471-peter-alphonse-connelly.html

ww1cc.org/stories

http://rollofhonor.org/ww1/

[SOUND EFFECT]

This week in our Articles and Posts segment - we are going to highlight 2 stories from our website at ww1cc.org/news

"The Americans seldom miss a shot.”

The first is about a famed skill of the doughboys. They were crack shots!

As America entered World War I in 1917, a who’s who of National Rifle Association rifle champions gathered at Camp Perry, OH for an important mission. Training Snipers!

These NRA Sharpshooters organized a national-level advanced shooting program —the Small Arms Firing School—where specially selected soldiers would learn advanced marksmanship, culminating in long-range shooting and sniper training.

Afterwards, the graduates rejoined their units bringing their new skills with them and training others.

Read the whole story about about how this public-private partnership for military marksmanship contributed to the American war effort by following the link in the podcast notes.

link:https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/8/24/how-nra-trained-america-s-snipers-to-fight-over-there

East Indian Americans in WW1

Finally in Articles a posts, we have a story about one of the Commission’s former interns, Tanveer Kalo, who is STILL doing great work on WW1.

Tanveer was also profiled in the May 16, 2017 issue of the WWI DISPATCH newsletter - our sister publication at ww1cc.org/dispatch for his intern work and support in creating our Vande Mataram website about a forgotten group of WW1 veterans from America’s asian Indians community (see the link in the podcast notes)...

Having become somewhat of an expert on the subject, Tanveer was recently invited to write an article on the same subject for American Bazaar Magazine, which was just published.

Tanveer talks about the process and discoveries of his work, and how he is continuing his research even after returning to college. In the article he highlights his personal favorite story of Manganlall K. Pandit, who served the US military in both World Wars.  

Check out Tanveer's great article at the link in the notes.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3039-in-defense-of-their-new-home-indian-americans-who-fought-for-the-united-states-in-world-war-i.html

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/vande-mataram-home.html

That brings us to the buzz - the centennial of WW1 this week in social media with Katherine Akey - Katherine - You have two photos to tell us about today - Take it away!

Mobile Museum Music

A woman shares a WW1 song her mother sang to her growing up

Get audio from this link https://www.facebook.com/WWImobilemuseum/videos/446466625543576/?hc_ref=ARQ-pHnYpr5W4lZnIYxGzT1sR9juupbVRphPPu2FkrLdBcUylXFFzt8QE-bnBY38NxQ

Link:https://www.facebook.com/WWImobilemuseum/videos/446466625543576/?hc_ref=ARQ-pHnYpr5W4lZnIYxGzT1sR9juupbVRphPPu2FkrLdBcUylXFFzt8QE-bnBY38NxQ

http://www.ww1mobilemuseum.com/

Thank you Katherine.

And that is WW1 Centennial News for this week.

We want to thank our guests:

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog filling us in on the Fire in Greece at Salonika,

And I am Theo Mayer - your host.

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1; This program is a part of that….

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thanks for joining us. And don’t forget to---

share the stories you are hearing here with someone ----

about the war that changed the world!

[music]

Alright gentlemen… grab mops, sponges, toothbrushes and meet me in the latrine - It’s time for a bathroom field day! White glove inspection at 1700 sharp!

• Moving the goods - The railroads and the war effort |@ 01 :00

And more…----more----

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 100 years ago this week  - and it’s about WW1 NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is August 23rd, 2017 and our guests this week are:

Lynn Heidelbaugh, Curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum

• Mike Shuster from the great war project blog,

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host. Welcome to the show.

[MUSIC TRANSITION]

We’ve gone back in time 100 years to explore the war that changed the world!

It is 1917 and America is preparing a war effort that is transforming her

more quickly than any previous event in her short history.

For example, 100 years later people will simply take for granted, the country’s ability to move huge volumes of goods, resources and people across the vast land. But there is no highway system in 1917… There are few canals… but there is a large and even transcontinental infrastructure - The railroads!

So it is not surprising, that trains quickly becomes a key strategic element in the war effort, 100 years ago.

Following are some the headlines and notes from the Official Bulletin - America’s War Gazette published daily by the Committee on Public Information, the US government propaganda ministry headed by George Creel.

We’ll track the story about the railroads through its headlines and pages starting just a month after war is declared.

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: May 15, 1917

Headline: BILL TO GIVE PRESIDENT POWER OVER FREIGHT SHIPMENTS INTRODUCED

The story reads:

"As war conditions develop It is certain there will be times when the shipment of arms and ammunition may be of prime importance ; at another time the movement of provisions may be more important; yet at another, the movement of coal and Iron ore may become the most Important of all.

Under these conditions It is thought essential that the President should have the power to determine what particular freight shall have priority and for how long this priority should continue.

Less than a month later --  the scope of the challenge is outlined in the Bulletin:

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Dateline: June 5th, 1917

Headline: THE MOBILIZATION OF RAILROADS FOR THE NATION'S WAR NEEDS ARE DEFINED

The story reads:

Freight cars are lacking…

There are 2,500,000 freight cars in the United States and their capacity is barely sufficient for current commercial needs.

The railroads in the near future will use 120,000 cars to transport material for the construction of the ' new army ' training camps, and a continuous flow of cars to keep those camps in supplies. They estimate that It will take 200,000 cars to carry the material used for the construction of the Government merchant ships, whether of steel or of wood. They will require an enormous number of cars to move the steel for the ships under construction for the Navy, and no estimate whatever can be made of the number of cars which will be needed to carry the material used in the manufacture of munitions and supplies for the Army, and in moving them a second time from the point of manufacture to the shipping point.

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Dateline: June 21th, 1917

Headline: MORE EXTENDED USE OF INTERIOR WATERWAYS OF COUNTRY URGED BY SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

TM: The “maxing out” of capacity is clearly being recognized by all concerned --- and everyone is looking for answers as this story illustrates:

“The president of one of our leading railways has recently said : " The railroads of the United States are carrying more freight than ever before in the history of the country, but when they have carried traffic up to 100 per cent of their capacity there still remains 15, 25, perhaps 30 per cent in traffic which it is impossible for them to carry at all."

No one --- who knows the facts, will question that the railways of the country are overwhelmed by the present traffic. There is said to be a shortage of 150,000 cars. Radical measures are being taken In an effort to meet the situation.

The railroads are Insufficient for the task laid upon them and the problem is likely to become more serious. It will not be long before large bodies of troops must be moved with their equipment in this country.

TM: Although Americans were used to traveling through the country by rail - A visit to aunt Tilly in not in the cards anytime soon,

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: July 17, 1917

Headline: HUGE REDUCTION IN PASSENGER TRAIN SERVICE

The story reads:

The railroads of the United States, as part of their effort, under the direction

of the Railroads' War Board, report the elimination of passenger

trains aggregating over 16,200,000 miles of train service per year.

This is done by the railroads to save man power, fuel, and motive power, that they may be applied to the transportation of necessities.

Every ton of coal, every locomotive, every mile of track space, every man whose duties are absorbed by an unnecessary passenger train --- can be put to effective use in freight service, and nothing is more necessary at the moment to insure the safety and prosperity of the country than that the railroads be able to handle the utmost possible amount of freight.

The elimination of passenger service already reported will make available over 1,120.000 tons of coal for other purposes.

TM: 10 days later a positive public relations story is published in the bulletin about the railroad companies

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Dateline: July 27, 1917

Headline: RAILROADS INCREASE NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY BY LEASING SURPLUS LANDS WHICH THEY OWN

The story reads:

To help increase the Nation's food supply by utilizing as much idle acreage as possible the railroads of the West and Middle West are leasing millions of acres of lands - which they own  - at nominal rental for grazing and agricultural purposes.

In addition to leasing their land to farmers and cattlemen at a nominal rental, a number of the railroads are offering garden plots, rent free, to families along their right of way.

This leads to the big story this week one hundred years ago…

[SOUND EFFECT]

Dateline: August 20th, 1917

Headline: PLANS FOR GREATEST TROOP MOVEMENT IN U. S. HISTORY ARE NOW BEING PERFECTED

The American Railway Association Is Preparing Schedules To Insure Safe

and Prompt Carrying of the Armies.

The story reads:

Altogether, 687,000 men will have in be transported to the various cantonments that the Government is building to house the new National Army. The movement will start September 5. Between that date and September 9 the railroads will complete the entrainment of 200,000 men, or approximately 30 per cent of the total number scheduled to be moved to the various training camps.

The facts are that to move merely one field army of 80,000 men requires 6.229 cars made up into 366 trains, with as many locomotives and train crews.

Meanwhile, in addition to moving the 687,000 recruits for the National Army,

the railroads have been asked to supply transportation for the 350,000 members of the National Guard to their training camps.

Closing

TM: It is easy to see how challenging and strategic this key piece of infrastructure is to the war effort - So….Finally, in December of this year , 1917,  the Interstate Commerce Commission recommends the total federal control of the railroad industry to ensure efficient operation.

The takeover measures are to go beyond simply easing the congestion and expediting the flow of goods; they will have total control of all parties—management, labor, investors, and shipping— on behalf of this national interest. President Wilson issues an order for nationalization of the US railroad industry on December 26, 1917

[BANG SOUND EFFECT]

The US Postal Service in WW1

Interview with Lynn

[SOUND EFFECT WOOSH]

Now that the troops are shipping out - first to training camp and soon thereafter overseas, another key logistics elements has to be nailed into place - one that is essential the the mental and spiritual well being of our fighting forces - Mail service!

With us today is Lynn Heidelbaugh (HEIDEL-BAW), Curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum who is going to talk to us about the mail service and how it adapted to the changing needs of a population at war.

Welcome, Lynn!

[exchange greetings]

[Lynn, can you fill us in on how the postal service in america had to transform and adapt when war was declared? ]

[You lost postal workers to the draft didn’t you?]

[Lynn - later in the show we’ll hear from Andrew Carroll from the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University - he contributed to your Pershing  “My fellow Soldiers - Letters from WWI” exhibit at the museum. When did that open?]

[Lynn - Museum exhibits are not really about artifacts and objects - they are about stories - as the curator for a postal museum exhibit about WW1 - is there anything that sticks out as a particularly memorable story.]

[Did the postal service get Involved with mail censorship or was that strictly the war department?]

[Thank you Lynn]

That was  Lynn Heidelbaugh (HEIDEL-BAW), Curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

link:https://postalmuseum.si.edu/

[SOUND EFFECT]

This week in our War in The Sky segment we are going to talk about the famous US 94th Aero Squadron- which is established at Kelly Field, Texas on August 20, 1917.

The “Hat in the ring Gang” named for their squadron logo -  is one of the first American pursuit squadrons to reach the Western Front and see combat.

Three notable airmen serve with the squadron, perhaps the most well known is Eddie Rickenbacker, who will be awarded almost every decoration attainable, including the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross.

On a personal note, I have a silver cigarette case from my grandfather that is signed by a bunch of his flying buddies including Eddie Rickenbacker. I’ve always treasured that...

So, another interesting member of the Hat in the Ring Gang is  Raoul Lufbery.. Who transferred over from the famous Lafayette Escadrille. Lufbery, a really colorful character, famously adopted a lion cub while with the Lafayette and named him Whiskey, later got Whiskey a lioness playmate called Soda. Now - besides being a little eccentric, he is, of course,  also a great aviator…

Finally there is Douglas Campbell who will become the first AMERICAN  TRAINED pilot to be an air ace.

We will follow more of the 94th Aero Squadron’s exploits over the coming months, a famous squadron that was born 100 years ago this week.

There are several links in the podcast notes to learn more.

Link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/94th_Aero_Squadron

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/94th_Fighter_Squadron#World_War_I

https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/94th-aero-squadron-photographs-sieurin-1917-1919

https://downunderaviationnews.wordpress.com/the-hat-in-the-ring-gang-the-combat-history-of-the-94th-aero-squadron-in-world-war-1/

www.ww1cc.org/warinthesky

[SOUND EFFECT]

Next we are joined by Mike shuster, former NPR correspondent and curator for the Great War Project blog.

By now, we’ve heard about the French Mutinies of 1917, the mass desertion in the Russian army, and bewildered and beleaguered troops across the war fronts. But it wasn’t just the allies. Today Mike’s post looks at the war weariness in the German Military.

Welcome Mike!

Thank you Mike. That was Mike Shuster from the Great War Project blog.

LINK:http://greatwarproject.org/2017/08/20/insurrection-in-the-german-military/

For videos about WW1, our friend at the Great War Channel on Youtube have been producing great videos about great war since 2014..

Here is Indy Nidel - the host of the Great War Channel.

3rd Great War Recording of Indy

This week’s new episodes include:

• The Battle of Hill 70 - Mackensen Advances in Romania

Follow the link in the podcast notes or search for “the great war” on youtube.

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

Next, it is time for the Storyteller and the Historian -  Today the intrepid duo are going to explore the challenges of being a German American during WW1.

[RUN OPENING]

[RUN SEGMENT]

Thank you gentlemen! That was - the StoryTeller - Richard Rubin and The Historian - Jonathan Bratten

The Storyteller and the Historian is now a full hour long monthly podcast. Look for them on iTunes and libsyn or follow the link in the podcast notes.

Link: http://storytellerandhistorian.libsyn.com

[SOUND TRANSITION]

We have moved forward in time to the present…

Welcome to WW1 Centennial News NOW  - This part of the program is not about history but how the centennial of the War that changed the world is being commemorated today.

This week in Commission News, We are announcing a new program from the National WW1 Museum and Memorial - called - Send A Deserving Teacher on an Adventure -

You can nominate a teacher of your choice (which can include yourself) for a drawing to win a free trip to the National World War I Museum and Memorial. The drawing is random, but the platform being used to collect the entries allows users to enter more ballots by doing actions such as: sharing the contest on social media, visiting the education resource archive, and so on. And of course, you and your nominee will be signed up for semi-monthly Education Newsletter. The contest runs through Sept. 8 at theworldwar.org/contest

There is a link in the podcast notes.

Link: theworldwar.org/contest

[Sound Effect]

At the Commission we created U.S. National WW1 Centennial Events Register where we are compiling and archiving WW1 Commemoration events from around the country- not just from major metros and museums but also local events from the heart of the country- showing how the WW1 Centennial Commemoration is playing out all over America.. You can access and contribute to the register at ww1cc.org/events. Click the big red button to put your ww1 commemoration event into the register or use the search box in the left column to see what is happening in your neck of the woods.

link:

http://ww1cc.org/events

Oil Paintings

Our local event pick for this week comes from the Public Libraries of Maryland. A special WW1 Oil Paintings exhibit is currently on display at the Thurmont Regional Library and will be moving to the C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick, Maryland until end of September. The exhibit includes a set of five paintings of WW1 planes by Robert Horvath, a former Talbot County Free Library director. The paintings are on loan from the U.S. Air Force Museum in Washington, D.C.

Margaret Carty, executive director of the Maryland Library Association, who helped put the exhibit together, noted: “When you look at the aviation then and the aviation now...for young people it must be almost mind-boggling to think that anyone dared to get into those,”

In Oct the exhibit will go to Montgomery county at the Olney branch, followed by Talbot County in November. Follow links in the podcast notes to find out more.

Link:http://www.cecildaily.com/spotlight/article_32d0cfa7-44d7-56c6-8d66-46e1b3827c41.html

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/component/jevents/eventdetail/47120/ww1-oil-paintings-exhibition.html?Itemid=1090&filter_reset=1

http://www.fcpl.org/branches-hours/thurmont-regional-library

http://www.fcpl.org/branches-hours/c-burr-artz-public-library

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/library

http://www.tcfl.org

Boston General

For our major metro event pick of the week,  we go to Boston Massachusetts where the Russell Museum of Medical History and Innovation features: The Spirit of Devotion: Massachusetts General Hospital and the First World War

There is  a short film about the hospital’s involvement in WWI and they will host several lectures. The hospital lobby exhibit will be changed every few months with new material.

The organization operated a Base Hospital in Talence, France between 1917 and 1918, with many doctors, nurses and other personnel joining medical efforts in support of the Allied forces. Read more about the upcoming exhibits and lectures by following the links in the notes.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/component/jevents/eventdetail/10429/the-spirit-of-devotion-massachusetts-general-hospital-and-the-first-world-war.html

http://www.massgeneral.org/museum/exhibits/front-lines/

http://www.massgeneral.org/museum/news/?display=Events

[SOUND EFFECT]

And for our newest feature “Speaking World War 1 - Where we  explore today’s words & phrases that are rooted in world war I  ---

This week’s word is Strafe or Strafing…

In German.. The word for “punishment” is “Strafe” -

And that is exactly what german fighter planes did - as they swept down from the skies, flying low to the ground as they unloaded their machine guns into the soldier in the trenches. It was a punishment from the sky.

This air to ground support maneuver soon become known as to “strafe” or strafing the troops - an anglicized version of the german word for punishment -

Strafe -  this week’s word for - Speaking WW1 - see the translation from Google Translate in the podcast notes.

Naya - da geb ich dir eine strafe!

link: https://translate.google.com/#de/en/Strafe

[SOUND EFFECT]

John Motley - Fort Towson, OK

Every week we are profiling one of the many amazing projects submitted to our $200,000 matching grant giveaway to rescue ailing WW1 memorials. The program is called 100 Cities / 100 Memorials. Last week we profiled the Albert Harry Bode Gravesite in Jackson California. This week, we head to Fort Towson, Oklahoma to learn more about a very unique project there.

Joining us is John Motley, Retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and nephew of Mrs. Margie Motley who, at 95 years young, has commissioned a new WW1 Memorial for the town of Fort Towson, Oklahoma in memory of her father, Cecil Evan Hopson, and all the doughboy veterans of Fort Towson, XXX county and Oklahoma featuring a life-size World War I Doughboy statue.  Welcome, John!

[exchange greetings]

John, this started as a small and simple search for a figureen for a headstone,  but has become much much more. Would you share the story with us?

John, when will the memorial be dedicated?

John - On behalf of the World War One Centennial Commission, from all of us here at WW1 Centennial news - and I am sure on behalf of our listeners - Would you please extend our warmest thanks and congratulations to your aunt - Mrs. Margie Motley for her dedication in remembering our WW1 veterans’ service -  in the war that changed the world.

Mrs. Motley. You are an amazing patriot and an amazing human being. We are all incredibly proud to have met you through your nephew and your work. Thank you!

Thank you John!

[exchange]

That was John Motley for the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials project in Fort Towson, Oklahoma.

We will continue to profile the submitting teams and their unique and amazing projects on the show over the coming months. Learn more about the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program at ww1cc.org/100memorials or follow the link in the podcast notes.

Link: www.ww1cc.org/100memorials

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Today in our Education section, we are going to continue with our theme on letters from the past -

On this show, we’ve heard time and time again - about the powerful emotional impact and personal connection - experienced from reading the letters of the era.

This makes the archiving and sharing, of letters and journals from WW1 one of the most powerful commemorations there is. And it is also the focus of our next guest...

Andrew Carroll is the Founding Director of the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University.

[Welcome Andy!]

[Exchange greetings]

Andy - your focus is on letters from all wars - but from your WW1 collection - is there one letter or series that particularly stands out for you?

[You’ve worked with Lynn Heidelbaugh from the smithsonian who was “on” earlier in the show -

We have a lot of people and organizations from the centennial community that listen to this show  - How can  individuals and  organizations access your archive?]

[Andy - a related question - how can that community of interest contribute to your work?]

[Finally Andy - You have another commemoration project you mentioned to Katherine - a commemorative WW1 plaque in memory of Edward Stone -- can you tell us a little about that?]

[Thank you for joining us]

That was Andrew Carroll, the Founding Director of the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University. Follow the link in the podcast notes to connect to the Center.

https://www.chapman.edu/research/institutes-and-centers/cawl/million-letters-campaign.aspx

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Illinois

Welcome to our Updates from the States - starting with some exciting news from our friends in the Prairie State!  Illinois - The First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL will reopen to the public after a 1-year restoration. The reopening and ribbon cutting is on Saturday, August 26, at 11 am.

The museum features new and updated exhibits and some new, cutting-edge storytelling techniques.

The museum’s reopening coincides with the centennial inauguration of the famed military unit known as the “Big Red One.” It became the first division of the U.S. Army in June 1917, assembling to fight in France. Read more about the First Division and the museum's new features by following the link in the podcast notes

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3023-first-division-museum-grand-reopening-set-for-august-26.html

[SOUND EFFECT]

North Dakota

Next, from the Roughrider State -- North Dakota,  important plans are underway to honor Native American World War One veterans.

Even before most Native Americans had citizenship rights, thousands of men from tribes across the country showed their patriotism by volunteering for the military and fighting in World War I.

Now, as the nation solemnly marks the Centennial, United Tribes Technical College - UTTC - at Bismarck is planning to honor Native American servicemen. The honoring will be held on Sept. 10 during the 2017 UTTC International Powwow.  We hope to have a guest on from the event in the next few weeks to tell us more - but for now - you can follow the link in the podcast notes.

links:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3026-plans-to-honor-wwi-native-veterans-in-north-dakota.html

That brings us to the buzz - the centennial of WW1 this week in social media with Katherine Akey - Katherine - You have two photos to tell us about today - Take it away!

The 94th Aero

The Hat in the Ring Squadron strikes a pose

link:https://www.facebook.com/ww1centennial/photos/a.290566277785344.1073741829.185589304949709/826621890846444/?type=3&theater

The Eclipses

Not one but two eclipses swept over the earth during WW1

Link:https://www.facebook.com/ww1centennial/photos/a.290566277785344.1073741829.185589304949709/827080740800559/?type=3&theater

Thank you Katherine.

And that is WW1 Centennial News for this week.

We want to thank you for joining us and our guests:

• Lynn Heidelbaugh, Curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum

And I am Theo Mayer - your host.

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1; This program is a part of that….

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

If you like the work we are doing, please support it with a tax deductible donation at ww1cc.org/donate - all lower case

Or if you are on your smart phone text  the word: WW1 to 41444. that's the letters ww the number 1 texted to 41444. Any amount is appreciated.

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thanks for joining us. And don’t forget to share the stories you are hearing here with someone about the war that changed the world!

[music]

Is that plane going to strafe us!?

• Getting ready for training camp  - War Department issues 30 lesson manifesto |@02 :00

And more...----more----

Welcome to World War 1 centennial News - It’s about WW1 news 100 years ago this week  - and it’s about WW1 News NOW - news and updates about the centennial and the commemoration.

Today is August 16th, 2017.

We have a big lineup today with six guest joining us. You’ll hear from…

• RG Head, former Air Force General, fighter pilot, author and historian  

WW1 Centennial News is brought to you by the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library. I’m Theo Mayer - the Chief Technologist for the Commission and your host.

Preface

The following section comes from the headlines and pages of the Official Bulletin - the government’s daily war gazette published by George Creel, President Wilson’s Propaganda Chief - We are republishing the daily issues on the centennial anniversary of their original publish dates at ww1cc.org/bulletin.

So for those who would like to follow the events of 100 years ago in the words and headlines of the times, as presented by the US government, we offer a unique and powerful way to follow the War That Changed the World.  We have the link in the podcast notes.

So now let’s jump into our wayback machine and take a look at one of the themes that pervaded the official bulletin 100 years ago this week.

link:http://ww1cc.org/bulletin

[MUSIC TRANSITION]

It’s the week of August 12, 1917. Starting on the Monday of this week the Official Bulletin launches a new series of articles - 30 lessons issued by the War Department over five weeks - written for the benefit of men selected for service.

The lessons are informal in tone - and designed to “define” the image and more importantly - the “Self Image” of the American Soldier. It is philosophy, attitude, behavior, morality, personal hygiene and more…

It is a manifesto for what it means to be an American Soldier…

Listen to a few random excerpts taken from the first 6 lessons…

From Lesson 1: Your post of Honor

Quote: Other things being equal, an army made up of self-reliant, thinking men has a great advantage over a merely machine like army, and this is especially true in present-day warfare.

Quote: The American soldier fights fairly and treats even the enemy with as much humanity as his own conduct will permit. As for slaughtering or enslaving the civilian population of captured territory, attacking prisoners, or assaulting women, American soldiers would as little commit such crimes in time of war as in time of peace.

Quote: America has fought always and everywhere in defense of principles and rights—never merely for territory and for power.

[DING]

From Lesson 2: Making good as a soldier:

Quote: Loyalty, obedience, and physical fitness are the three basic

qualities essential to the making of a real soldier.

[DING]

Lesson 3: Soldierly qualities

Quote: Intelligence, cleanliness, cheerfulness,confidence, spirit, tenacity, strength and self-reliance are the qualities of an American Soldier

[DING]

Lesson 4: Getting ready for camp

Quote: Don’t take a last fling. It may land you in the hospital. At the best, it will probably bring you into camp in an unfit condition to take up your duties!

[DING]

From Lesson 5: First day at camp

Quote: As the men in the National Army, which must get ready in record-breaking time your training will be more strenuous than that of soldiers in peace. You will find there is plenty of hard work ahead of you. The average energetic young American will be glad of it.

[DING]

Lesson 6: Cleanliness in camp

Quote: The good soldier is almost “fussy” in the care of his person, his clothing, his bedding, and his other belongings. Personal cleanliness includes using only your own linen, toilet articles, cup, and mess kit.

And so go the first 6 of 30 1-page lessons defining what it means to be an American Soldier for 10’s of thousands of young men, many of whom have never been away from home

One of our listeners who joined us during the live recording of this epsisode  commented that these lessons were not only “new” for the recent draftees, but new for the army at large. Bill Betten from California mentioned that, until now, The US Military consisted of a professional career soldiers whose reputation was considered, shall we say -  “a bit rough” and so this “rebranding” of what it means to be an American soldier is a seed change in the world view and self image for our military and another key example of the war that changed the world.

To learn how to join the live recording of the podcast, go to WW1CC.org/cn - charlie / nancy all lower case.

[SOUND EFFECT]

Interview with RG Head

Moving to our War In The Sky segment, we are joined today by RG Head, retired Air Force Brigadier General, fighter pilot, military historian and author. RG offers us a retrospective of the past 6 months in the Great War in the Sky and a preview of what will happen over the coming months.

Welcome RG

[greet one another]

Q: RG - a lot has happened over the past months in the skies over Europe, how would you characterize it in overview?

Q: RG - we have reported a lot about the US and allied belief that overwhelming US air power could be a linchpin in hastening the end of this terrible war. How does that play out over the coming months?

Q: So your are saying that the strategy did not work out because we couldn't pull the manufacturing together - Is that right?

Q: So just before we wrap up, your book on Oswald Boelcke just came out in German… How did that happen?

Thank you RG

That was RG Head, Retired Air Force brigadier general, fighter pilot,, military historian and author. His latest book is a biography of Oswald Boelcke, often referred to as the father of combat aviation. RG Head is also the curator a comprehensive - nearly day-by-day “War in the Sky” timeline on the Commission website. We have links to the book, timeline and RG’s facebook page in the podcast notes

Link: https://www.facebook.com/rg.head/

www.ww1cc.org/warinthesky

https://www.amazon.com/RG-Head/e/B01M59UA64

From the war in the sky to the war on the water - we are joined by the Storyteller and the Historian - Richard Rubin and Jonathan Bratten. Today they’re going to explore the Naval Reserve Cct - which creates an unprecedented window of opportunity for women to enlist into the military.

[RUN OPENING]

[RUN SEGMENT]

Thank you gentlemen! That was - the StoryTeller - Richard Rubin and The Historian - Jonathan Bratten

The Storyteller and the Historian is now a full hour long monthly podcast. Look for them on iTunes and libsyn or follow the link in the podcast notes.

Link: http://storytellerandhistorian.libsyn.com

[SOUND EFFECT]

Next we are joined by Mike shuster, former NPR correspondent and curator for the Great War Project blog.

When thinking about WW1 - People often focus on the Western Front of France and Belgium, but this world war was truly Global. Today Mike’s post is an update on the Middle East, where the Turks found themselves in a difficult situation.

Welcome Mike!

[Mike Section]

Thank you Mike. That was Mike Shuster from the Great War Project blog.

LINK:http://greatwarproject.org/2017/08/13/crisis-for-the-turks-in-the-middle-east/

For videos about WW1, our friend at the Great War Channel on Youtube have been producing great videos about great war since 2014..

This week’s new episodes include:

• Despair Everywhere - The Great War Week 159

Follow the link in the podcast notes or search for “the great war” on youtube.

Link:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGreatWar

And now we are going to move forward in time to the present!

[SOUND EFFECT]

Welcome to WW1 Centennial News NOW  - This part of the show is not about history but how the centennial of the War that changed the world is being commemorated today.

[Sound Effect]

We are going to start with Activities and Events selected from the U.S. National WW1 Centennial Events Register at WW1CC.org/events where we are compiling and recording WW1 Commemoration events from around the country.

Uniformed Women in WW1 Smithsonian

Our pick of the week is from the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC. The exhibit is called: “Uniformed women in World War One”and explores the active and sometimes overlooked role played by women throughout the war. Their roles were seminal both as a part of the preparedness effort before 1917 as well as uniformed members military and civilian organizations. Even If you can’t make it to Washington DC, the Smithsonian offer a wonderfully detailed website featuring American women, their service and their uniforms. Take a virtual visit with the links in the podcast notes.

If you are involved with any WW1 centennial events, you are invited to submit them to the National WW1 Centennial Events Register. This not only promotes them to the WW1 community of interest, but also puts them into the permanent national US archival record of the centennial. Go to ww1cc.org/events. Click the big red button and fill out the form.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/37666/smithsonian-s-national-museum-of-american-history-presents-uniformed-women-in-the-great-war.html

http://americanhistory.si.edu/uniformed-women-great-war

http://ww1cc.org/events

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Newsletter Issue #8 is out

In our Education Segment, we wanted to let you know that the latest issue of the education newsletter is out - “Understanding the Great War - Issue 8 is all about “Propaganda” with lesson plans, source materials, links to youtube videos and other resources all designed to let educators create memorable learning experiences for their students. Follow the link in the podcast notes to the newsletter archives or to register to receive the semi-monthly publication.

Link to view online: http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1112454519225&ca=c9cccca5-72a6-4420-bad8-038155085c7a

http://ww1cc.org/subscribe

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In our newest feature “Speaking World War 1 - Where we  explore today’s words & phrases that are rooted in world war I  --- This week’s selected  word  is “thingumyjig”. Can you spell it!?

T-H-I-N-G (thing) U (uh) M-Y (ma) J-I-G (jig) Thingumygig….

Although it appears to have existed prior to the war, it became cemented in common use during the conflict. Soldiers were confronted with many new objects, parts and things -- and so the word thingumyjig became a quick easy way for soldiers to refer to those new bits and pieces around them. Other words for “that thing I don’t know what to call” include the Canadian’s favored “hoozamakloo”!

Read more about the many ways soldiers referred to those things they couldn’t quite remember the names of, by following the link in the podcast notes.

link: https://books.google.com/books?id=Vz4uDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT142&dq=thingumyjig&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi2uancqNnVAhVF4SYKHRHGDPEQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=thingumyjig&f=false

[SOUND EFFECT]

Ann Taylor and Ruth Edmonson Johnson 100 cities

Every week we are profiling one of the many amazing projects submitted to our $200,000 matching grant giveaway to rescue ailing WW1 memorials. The program is called 100 Cities / 100 Memorials. Last week we profiled the Veterans of World War I of the U.S.A. Monument in Phoenix, Arizona. This week we are heading to Jackson California to profile the Albert Harry Bode Gravesite project.

To tell us about it, we’re joined by Ann Taylor, Regent of the Sierra Amador Chapter of the NSDAR, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Ruth Edmonson Johnson, Honorary Regent and National lineage Research Chair - Southwest.

Ann and Ruth - Welcome!

[exchange greetings]

You know - what I love about the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials initiative is the range of projects it has drawn. Last week Neil Urban was with us, and he works for the state of Arizona. Today you are here from Jackson, California - a beautiful little hamlet located between Yosemite and Sacramento! And there are only 3500 of you!

I have read your grant application and you have a great story, why don’t you share it with us!

[interview]

Well, you know that was one of the core objectives when we created the program - to act as a catalyst for communities to rediscover their heritage - and it sounds like project is doing exactly that in Jackson California!

That was Ann Taylor and Ruth Edmonson Johnson from the Sierra Amador Chapter of the NSDAR  telling us about Albert Bode’s military plaque and headstone restoration in Jackson, California

We will continue to profile the submitting teams and their projects on the show over the coming months. Learn more about the 100 Cities / 100 Memorials program at ww1cc.org/100memorials or follow the link in the podcast notes.

Link: www.ww1cc.org/100memorials

Hawaii

[SOUND EFFECT]

Welcome to our Updates from the States - starting with some exciting news from our friends in the Aloha State!  Hawaii Governor David Ige (EEGAY) has signed a letter, pledging state support to Hawaii's World War I Centennial Task Force. This is a great group of people that have been working diligently over the past several years to present and expose Hawaii’s role in the war that changed the world. Visit their website at ww1cc.org/hawaii all lower case - or follow the link in the podcast notes to read the story about this good news..

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/hawaii-wwi-centennial-articles/2971-hawaii-s-world-war-i-centennial-task-force-gains-state-support.html

Interview with Jeff Jakeman

next, from Heart of Dixie -- Alabama,  we are going to be joined by Jeff Jakeman, Professor of History, Emeritus at Auburn University, to talk about a unique WWI aviator who was also quite an accomplished architect and artist - Penrose Vass Stout!  

Welcome Jeff!

[exchange]

Q: Jeff what can you tell us about Penrose…

Q: Jeff tell us about the exhibit at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art about Vass stout?

Jeff - Thank you so much for joining us

That was Professor Jeff Jakeman telling us about aviator, architect, artist and alumni of Auburn University - Penrose vass Stout and the exhibit - “Sketching the Skies: Penrose Vass Stout which runs through September 10th. Montgomery Museum of Fine Art

Learn more by following the link in the podcast notes.

links:http://mmfa.org/events/from-alabama-to-the-skies-of-france-1917-1918-penrose-vass-stouts-improbable-journey/

http://mmfa.org/exhibitions/sketching-the-skies-penrose-vass-stout-alabamas-wwi-artist-aviator/

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/commemorate/event-map-system/eventdetail/47084/sketching-the-skies-penrose-vass-stout-alabama-s-wwi-artist-aviator.html

http://digital.archives.alabama.gov

It is time for our Articles and Posts segment - with new posts from our website at ww1cc.org -

Eclipse 99 years ago

In the news section, you’ll find an article that parallels current events with news from 99 years ago. And the subject is ------ Eclipses!

In 1918 newspapers -- across America --  tucked in among reports about U.S. regiments fighting overseas and war bond propaganda,---  were reports about the Total Eclipse casting the moon’s shadow over the country.

Just as in 2017, in 1918 the path of the eclipse started south of Japan, went across the Pacific Ocean, and then across the United States.

AND, just as in 2017, Americans were avidly interested in the amazing cosmic phenomena. Read more about it by visiting ww1cc.org/news or following the link in the podcast notes.

link:http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/communicate/press-media/wwi-centennial-news/3001-2017-eclipse-across-u-s-recalls-wwi-eclipse-99-years-ago.html

Interview with Susan Werbe

For our spotlight on the media section, we are being joined by Susan Werbe (Werby),  an independent scholar and artist with a focus on -- the social and cultural history of World War One. She is the creator and executive producer of The Great War Theatre Project: Messengers of a Bitter Truth, recently performed in Boston, New York, and Letchworth in the UK.

Susan wrote about this project in a recent article on our WWrite blog,

and is here with us today to tell us more about it and about another project she has been working on. Welcome, Susan!

[exchange greetings]

[Susan, Could you give our listeners an idea of what your theater project “Messengers of a Bitter Truth” is about?]

[Now Susan, your newest project isn’t theater, it is music project called Letters You Will Not Get. What inspired this one?]

[Susan I know you haven’t recorded the music for “Letters you will not get” at this time, but you do have the libretto - can you give us a sample..?]

Thank you so much Susan!

That was Susan Werbe (Werby),  an independent scholar and creative artist with a focus on the social and cultural history of World War One --

Learn more about Susan’s work and research by following the links in the podcast notes.

Link:

http://www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/articles-posts/2504-a-journey-of-commemoration-the-great-war-through-the-lens-of-art.html

That brings us to the buzz - the centennial of WW1 this week in social media with Katherine Akey - Katherine - what do you have for us this week?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services commemorates the WWI Centennial with new webpages highlighting the history of immigration and naturalization.

link:https://www.facebook.com/uscis/photos/a.408896322454927.106414.228759177135310/1632639103413970/?type=3&theater

https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history/world-war-i

Thank you Katherine.

And that is also IT for WW1 Centennial News for this week.

In closing, we want to thank our guests:

• RG Head, author and historian giving us a retrospective on the War in the Sky

And I am Theo Mayer - your host.

The US World War One Centennial Commission was created by Congress to honor, commemorate and educate about WW1.

Our programs are to--

inspire a national conversation and awareness about WW1; This program is a part of that….

We are bringing the lessons of the 100 years ago into today's classrooms;

We are helping to restore WW1 memorials in communities of all sizes across our country;

and of course we are building America’s National WW1 Memorial in Washington DC.

If you like the work we are doing, please support it with a tax deductible donation at ww1cc.org/donate - all lower case

Or if you are on your smart phone text  the word: WW1 to 41444. that's the letters ww the number 1 texted to 41444. Any amount is appreciated.

We want to thank commission’s founding sponsor the Pritzker Military Museum and Library for their support.

The podcast can be found on our website at ww1cc.org/cn  

on  iTunes and google play ww1 Centennial News.

Our twitter and instagram handles are both @ww1cc and we are on facebook @ww1centennial.

Thanks for joining us. And don’t forget to share the stories you are hearing here with someone about the war that changed the world!

[music]

Hey Halsey - pass me that thingumyjig! Thanks.