World War I Centennial News
US Mint World War I Centennial Silver Medal Sales Reopen
By Mike Unser
via the CoinNews.net web site
Collectors can again order the five 2018 World War I Centennial Silver Dollar and Medal Sets. Limited to 100,000, the sets launched on Jan. 17 and originally had an ordering deadline of Feb. 20.
Today, the United States Mint reopened sales of all five sets at their initial issue price of $99.95 each.
There’s no word on how many sets are available or for how long their sales will continue.
The medals feature designs emblematic of the Army, the Navy, the Air Service, the Marines and the Coast Guard. Conceived by the U.S. Mint to support the WWI Centennial Silver Dollar Commemorative Coin Program, each medal is paired with a proof WWI dollar and sold as a distinct set.
Sales figures of all five sets had been declining since their Feb. 20 deadline because of returns and cancellations. That’s no longer the case. Last week’s U.S. Mint sales report had each set advancing by an average of 73 units. This week’s report shows gains ranging from 15 units for the Coast Guard set to 52 units for the Army set.
The World War I roots of the modern Purple Heart medal
By Aaron Rosenthal
Staff Writer
George Washington's original Badge of Military Merit (inset center) and the modern Purple Heart Medal.Although there is little doubt that the Purple Heart is one of the most recognizable medals the US military offers to men and women in its service, the actual story of the decoration is often overlooked. “The Purple Heart is a medal awarded in the name of the President to any civilian or member of the Armed Forces United States who while serving under any capacity with one of the armed forces is wounded or killed.”1
Today, around 1.9 million purple hearts have been awarded,2 but many may be surprised to learn that although its conception began with George Washington himself, the Purple Heart in its current form can only be traced back to 1932, with a direct connection to the American military experience in World War I.3 In this article I will take a look at the story of the modern Purple Heart.
General George Washington was the first to conceptualize the Purple Heart, or as he called it, the Badge of Military Merit. This purple-colored heart-shaped badge was awarded to three soldiers in the Continental Army who showed exceptional merit on the battlefield.4 Sergeant Daniel Bissell received his for spying on British troops quartered in New York City and then returning to American lines with invaluable intelligence.5
Sergeant William Brown received his at the Battle of Yorktown, for leading his men, through British defenses with unloaded muskets and attacking their inner lines with nothing but bayonets. Finally Sergeant Elijah Churchill was awarded his for daring raids on the British held Fort George and Fort Slongo. However after the Revolutionary War, Washington’s Badge of Military Merit fell into disuse.6
From the World War I Centennial News Podcast
The Ambulance
Our major theme for July 20th's WW1 Centennial News Podcast, Episode 82, was the Ambulance: the experience of Americans who drove one, its effect on battlefield medicine, and even the evolution of the word. In 100 Years Ago, host Theo Mayer provided essential background information on the American Field Service (AFS). Nicole Milano, an archivist and editor at the AFS, joined the show to discuss the vital contributions of that organization during the war. In addition, we combined Speaking WW1 and War Tech into one cohesive, ambulance-focused segment. The following is a transcript of 100 Years ago, the interview, Speaking WW1, and War Tech:
100 Years Ago: The American Field Service with Theo Mayer and Nicole Milano
Theo Mayer: The scale of injury and physical trauma in World War I hit new heights, previously unimaginable in human history. In response, the treatment of the wounded and battlefield medicine were completely transformed. However, before you can treat a wounded warrior, you need to get them from the battlefield to the doctor, and that's the theme for this week's show. Our catchphrase is ambulance, and as you'll learn by the time the show's finished, the term itself has a history that predates vehicles. With that as a premise, we're going to jump into our centennial time machine and go back to the years just prior to World War I to see how a hospital in Paris was the foundation for how the wounded were transported from the battlefield in the war that changed the world...
We've landed in pre-war Paris. It's very popular for wealthier Americans, as well as aspiring artists, to come here. It's exciting, it's cultured, and it's naughty, all at the same time. The expatriate, or the American overseas community in Paris, is defined by the River Seine. On the Left Bank, you have the artists, musicians, philosophers, and writers. The Right Bank is inhabited by the Gilded Age upper class families like the Vanderbilts, Goulds, Morgans, Whitneys, and so on. These Americans want American doctors and American medical care as well, so they come together to establish and fund a hospital in Paris for themselves: L'hôpital Américain. The hospital is paid for entirely with private donations, much of it coming from the Right Bank families.
Inspector General A. Piatt Andrew and Assistant Inspector General Stephen Galatti in front of a row of ambulances at 21 rue Raynouard, the location of the AFS headquarters in Paris, France. Photograph by H.C. Ellis. Individual contributions worth about $10 million build, staff, and supply the hospital, which opens to much excitement. Sterling Heilig of the Chicago Record-Herald describes it as, "The jewel of Paris, the most spic-and-span, luxurious, scientific, brand-new little hospital in Europe."
Okay- back to history. Now it's August of 1914. A war breaks out because a radical kid assassinates the Crown Prince of Austria. Nobody thinks of it as a big deal at the time, but Germany decides to take the opportunity to roll through Belgium and push into France, expecting an easy military snap and grab of Belgium and France to expand their empire- because after all, that's how you expand empires. Well, in early September, the invasion gets to within 30 miles of Paris. That's when the French and the British muster up, counterattack, and stop the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne. It's a turning point that precedes the four years of global mayhem that will become known as World War I.
From the World War I Centennial News Podcast
Remembering Veterans:
The Daughter's of the American Revolution's Tracy Robinson, and the "re-chickenization" of France
In August 3rd's WW1 Centennial News Podcast, Episode 83, Tracy Robinson joined us from the Daughters of the American Revolution to discuss the contributions of the DAR during the Great War, including the aptly named "re-chickenization" of France. The following is a transcript of the interview:
Theo Mayer: In a recent editorial planning session this subject came up, and although it's only part of our theme for this section, I'm really excited that we're about to tackle this very intriguing subject: the "re-chickenization" of France. Interesting, huh? It's part of what the DAR, the national society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, took on for post-war Europe. Joining us today is Tracy Robinson, Director of Archives and History for the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Tracy, welcome to the podcast.
Tracy Robinson: Thank you, Theo. It's a pleasure to be with all of you today.
Theo Mayer: Tracy, could you start off by telling us a little bit about the Daughters of the American Revolution: when and how the group started, and how its mission has evolved over the years?
The DAR, founded in 1890, is a volunteer service organization dedicated to patriotism, education, and historical preservation.
Tracy Robinson: DAR was founded in Washington DC during the fall of 1890 by four women, along with two of their colleagues, in response to the founding of the Sons of the American Revolution earlier that year in the spring. Very quickly after their founding (the SAR), they voted to exclude women from membership, which didn't go over very well with women who didn't think their patriotism should be discarded. on account of their sex.
DAR is a volunteer service organization. All of the service projects undertaken by chapters and state societies seek to honor in one way or another one or more of the society's three objectives: patriotism, education and historic preservation. All of these efforts include both fording active duty military personnel and assisting veterans program.
To join DAR, you must be a woman at least 18 years of age and be able to prove your direct descent from a revolutionary war patriot. When you consider as we will the enormous volume of work DAR members did to support the Allied effort during World War One, it becomes even more remarkable when you remember that DAR was relatively young. They hadn't celebrated their 27th birthday yet when United States entered the war in 1917 but they got themselves organized very quickly.
Theo Mayer: Well, they did a lot of wonderful things during the war and one of the programs just happens to fascinate me because I love the term. The DAR took on the challenge to "re-chickenize" France. Now, what does that mean and it begs the question, how did France get "de-chickenized"?
Tracy Robinson: Well, France got "de-fooded" pretty much during the war. In June 1918, the DAR learned of a plan. The American Committee for Devastated France had devised a plan to "rechickenize" France. The DAR responded with a bulletin proposing that Daughters organize local campaigns to involve their community's children in this project to sort of funny words that all they thought would appeal to children. The goal of the fundraising campaign was to supply the French people with much needed poultry farm to fill a gap in their food supply. A donation of only 10 cents placed a chick on a farm. A donation of 25 cents placed an egg in an incubator. $400 established a poultry farm with two incubators, a thousand eggs and one wounded soldier to work as the poultry man for one year. To encourage donations, the DAR created a button pin with a drawing of a chicken and the phrase, “I have a chicken in France,” which was given for those 10 and 25 cents donation.
Pins such as these were given to people who donated to the DAR's Rechickenization program
Theo Mayer: Post-war, you played a huge role in establishing thousands of memorials in the US honoring those who served in World War One. Can you tell us more about that?
Tracy Robinson: The DAR has and has always had a very large historical marker program, generally speaking. There are not only thousands of markers in the US but in many other countries of the world as well especially in Belgium and France where World War One is concerned and our leadership has encouraged our membership to identify and report World War One memorial to the commission and also to apply to the 100 Cities/100 Memorials program as appropriate.
However, I think that the most important post-war memorial was a living memorial of sorts and involves an effort by DAR to rebuild the village of Tiloloy, France which is located in the central northern part of the country. The entire village had been destroyed in the war and subsequently the wife of the French ambassador contacted DAR leadership to ask for help. After much discussion and planning and a visit to Tiloloy by DAR leadership, the society decided to fund the complete water systems of the village and, this is the touching part, as repayment to France for its aid during the American Revolution, and it was finally finished and dedicated during the summer of 1921 with both DAR members and French leaders in attendance.
Everything DAR members do is in honor of the sacrifices their ancestors made while fighting the American Revolution and it must have been a proud moment and probably a very healing experience after witnessing so much devastation to have this opportunity to rebuild part of that village at least as partial payment to our greatest ally during the American Revolution.
Theo Mayer: I know we've had a number of DAR chapters sign up for our Bells of Peace. It's a national bell toll, the Centennial Armistice on November 11th at 11:00 am local. How do we invite all the chapters to join?
Tracy Robinson: One of DARs permanent committees, it's called the Commemorative Committee and they encourage DAR chapter members to join in local commemoration. Our plans on the national level aren't firm yet. We're still tossing some ideas around about November.
Theo Mayer: Tracy, it's been great speaking with you. Thank you for joining us today.
Tracy Robinson: Thanks, Theo.
Theo Mayer: Tracy Robinson is the director of archives and history for the national society, Daughters of the American Revolution. Learn more about the DAR, their archives and the role in World War One by following the links in the podcast notes.
Podcast Notes and links
www.dar.org/archives
https://www.dar.org/archives/women-resilience-dar-service-world-war-i
https://www.dar.org/sites/default/files/QuasquiFlashbackMJ15.pdf
https://blog.dar.org/celebrate-125-monday-daughters-aid-war-recovery
From the World War I Centennial News Podcast
Historian Corner:
An interview with Harley Davidson Archivist Bill Jackson
In August 3rd's WW1 Centennial News Podcast, Episode 83, Bill Jackson, an archivist for Harley Davidson, joined us to tell the story of this iconic company and its motorcycles in the Great War. The following is a transcript of the interview:
Theo Mayer: This week in our Historian's Corner, the subject is hogs. No, not hogs like the farm animal, we're talking motorcycles, and specifically we're talking Harley-Davidson as our two friends from France, Christophe and Pierre, roll across America on their restored World War I era Harley for Operation Twin Links. We thought it would be a perfect time to reach out to Harley-Davidson to talk about their motorcycles in World War I. Their archives lead, Bill Jackson, took some time from his busy schedule to join us today and tell us more about the company and their iconic machines during World War One. Bill, it's great to have you on the podcast.
Bill Jackson: Thank you very much for having me.
Theo Mayer: Bill, how and when did Harley-Davidson itself get started?
Bill Jackson: William Harley and Arthur Davidson met as teenagers and there's some mystery about that early period for Harley but we know that they sold their first motorcycle to a friend of Arthur Davidson's in 1903. It could have been in '04, but we believe it's '03, in the back of the Davidson home here in Milwaukee.
Theo Mayer: Cars and motorized vehicles were brand new ideas at the turn of the century. How common or popular were motorcycles around 1914?
Bill Jackson: By 1914, they're getting more popular and there are a few major players, including Harley-Davidson. By then one of their emerging big competitors in the US was Indian Motorcycles out of Massachusetts. There were even robust motorcycle magazines in the period and motorcycle shows just like you can go to now. Just like there were car shows in those days. As you aptly put it, it was an exploding market.
Theo Mayer: I spoke to a Harley history buff a few years ago and as I recall from the conversation, it was Indian as a brand that probably shipped more units into Europe than Harley did in World War I. He also said that this was what gave Harley a break locally because it opened up the business in America because Indian was busy building stuff for the military.
Bill Jackson: There's a lot of truth to that. The first year of military production specifically was 1917, and about half of Harley's production went to the military. But by 1918, the vast majority of Harley's production was going to the military so both Harley and Indian were suppliers. Harley, by that point had a very robust dealer network and they had already been growing in dealer networks outside the US borders.
Americans troops with a Harley Davidson Model 17 F/J. The U.S. military primarily used the motorcycle for dispatch, carrier, and escort purposes.
Theo Mayer: A couple of questions. What was the role of motorcycles in World War I and how do this affect the industry and the Harley product in particular?
Bill Jackson: One of the biggest uses was the Motor Dispatch Service, MDS. People sometimes misunderstand the motorcycle as a combat vehicle, which of course it wasn't.
Theo Mayer: I think what people are probably thinking about is that pretty well-known picture of the Harley with an installed machine gun.
Bill Jackson: Right. That specific vehicle was developmental. As far as we know that was actually never used in the field but for things like dispatch use, carrier use, sometimes escort service and it actually stemmed from Harley providing motorcycles to the US military prior to World War One for the US- Mexico border conflict. You would commonly these motorcycles that were really not much different than what the civilians could buy.
Theo Mayer: Do you have a particular story or incident about World War One and about Harley that you can share?
Corporal Roy Holtz on his Harley
Bill Jackson: Absolutely. The very first American who set foot on German soil in November 12 of 1918, the day after the Armistice, was a corporal named Roy Holtz of the US Army and he actually entered Germany riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and sidecar. A curious part of the story is that the photo appeared in Harley-Davidson's The Enthusiast Magazine and lo and behold a few years later, Roy Holtz showed up for a factory tour in Milwaukee. He said, “By the way, I'm the guy in that photo,” and they really had this amazing reaction, like “Oh my gosh, it's you.” They got some good play out of that, that Roy Holtz, the first American to enter Germany right after the war ended actually showed up here for a factory tour.
Theo Mayer: That's a great story. Now, it's interesting that a lot of veterans wind up really interested in riding motorcycles.
Bill Jackson: There are many veteran riders, including before, during, and after war time as they come home. Then you'll even find Harley-Davidson dealerships deliberately set up near military bases because there's such a huge crossover passion for the motorcycle and motorcycling enthusiasm on the part of service people.
Theo Mayer: Well, so relative to this, let's talk about our friends from France and Operation Twin Links. That's the expedition where the boys, Christophe and Pierre, are crossing the country on a reconstructed WWI Harley. Have you met them?
Bill Jackson: I actually did not get the chance to meet them when they were here. I was actually looking out our office window when I saw them coming up on the intersection closest to the museum. It's not every day you see a 1918 Harley-Davidson with a sidecar in the streets of Milwaukee. They had a very busy schedule but I got a good look at the bike. It's clear to me, it's one of these works of passion, getting this old machine running and capable. I think their goal when that's all set and done is to cover 5,000 miles in the US. Very impressive.
Christophe de Goulaine and Pierre Lauvergeat are traveling across the United States in this WW1-era Harley Davidson motorcycle (courtesy of Operation Twin Links on Facebook)
Theo Mayer: Well, they're an interesting couple of guys. They're not really sponsored. They're taking a nice ride. I mean, that's really what they're doing and it's on your Harley! Of course, it's a great testament to Harley if a century old machine can still cross the country.
Bill Jackson: Absolutely. We are the oldest manufacturer. Not many out there can say that they're hundred years old. It happens to be, I'm sure as you know, that we're also celebrating 115th anniversary of the company.
Theo Mayer: Congratulations on that. Well, thank you so much for joining us. Our listeners love motorcycles and they love Harley so thank you for coming by.
Bill Jackson: You're very welcome. Thank you.
Theo Mayer: Bill Jackson is the archive lead for Harley-Davidson. Learn more about Harley-Davidson and the history of motorcycles in war time by following the links in the podcast notes.
Podcast Notes and links
https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/museum/explore/archives.html
http://www.ridingvintage.com/2012/12/war-machines-american-motorcycles-of-wwi.html
https://www.thrillist.com/cars/history-of-u-s-military-motorcycles
http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2018/06/29/100-year-old-harley-davidson-returns-from-france-to-honor-american-wwi-soldiers.html
From the World War I Centennial News Podcast
Commission News:
Rebekah Wilson and the "Turning the Tide" Stamp
In July 27th’s WW1 Centennial News Podcast, Episode 82, former commission staffer and Director of Operations Rebekah Wilson came on the show to share the story behind our new commemorative stamp. The following is a transcript of the interview:
Theo Mayer: This week in Commission news we're happy to announce a new Centennial commemorative collectible. Joining the U.S. Mint 1918 World War I Commemorative Silver Dollar, this week, the U.S. Postal Service issued the World War I "Turning the Tide" Stamp. It's a really great-looking piece, so anyone who's into snail mail, stamp collecting, or really wants a great commemorative collectible for kids or grandkids, head to the post office and snag a sheet or two of these awesome Forever Stamps. The new stamp was offered to the public in a First Day of Issue dedication ceremony hosted at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City. The stamp features a soldier wearing a steel combat helmet. In his right hand, he holds the pole for the America flag that he's grasping in his left. In the background of the stamp, you can see smoke and barbed wires against the yellow rays of the sky. Two World War I biplanes fly over the battlefield. The illustration was created by artist Mark Stutzman, who's the same talent that created the renowned young Elvis stamp. According to the Postal Service, the World War I illustration was painted using an airbrush on illustrator board, a technique that evokes the propaganda posters used during World War I. It's a great look.
World War I Centennial Commissioner Debra Anderson was a guest speaker for the ceremony, and mentioned the effort to gain the support for the stamp. "We knocked on as many doors as we could, and wrote as many letters as we could to help the veterans to be remembered. We're thrilled that the Postal Service has chosen to provide them with this honor." As Commissioner Anderson points out, a stamp doesn't just happen. This grassroots campaign started at the fledgling U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, at their very first official meeting on October 29th, 2013, with a suggestion by Commissioner Jerry Hester. Joining us to tell us the story of this early initiative to get a commemorative World War I stamp is Rebekah Wilson, one of the original Commission staffers, and the former Director of Operations for the World War I Centennial Commission. Rebekah, welcome back for a chat. It's great to have you here.
Rebekah Wilson: Nice to speak with you too. I'm glad to be back.
Centennial of the WWI combat death of American poet Joyce Kilmer
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission
Beloved American poet Joyce Kilmer was killed 100 years ago on July 30, 1918, while fighting in France. Kilmer is best known for a poem entitled "Trees," published in a collection entitled Trees and Other Poems (1914). At the time of his death, Kilmer was considered to be one of the leading poets and lecturers of his generation.
Joyce Kilmer at Columbia University (left) and in uniform In France before his death.While a student at Columbia University, in New York, he was vice president of the Philolexian Society, was associate editor of Columbia Spectator, the campus newspaper, and was a member of the Debating Union. After graduating, he wrote book reviews for the New York Times, The Nation, and other publications and worked on the Funk & Wagnall's dictionary.
He married shortly after graduation and was the father of five children, one of whom had died shortly before he left for France.
Kilmer joined the Army soon after the U.S. declared war on Germany in April 1917, but he didn’t have to. At the age of 30 he was older than most, plus he was married with children. But he felt he needed to take part.
Kilmer was assigned to be a Sergeant with the Headquarters Company, 165th Infantry, a part of the U.S. Army's legendary 69th Division, from New York. This assignment suited him. Though he was eligible for commission as an officer -- and was often recommended for commission during the course of the war -- Kilmer refused, stating that he would rather be a sergeant in the Fighting 69th than an officer in any other regiment. As a famous poet and journalist, he also refused assignments that would have reduced his personal danger or given him an easier job in a rear area.
Read more: The Centennial of the combat death of American poet Joyce Kilmer
United States World War I Centennial Commission Commissioner Debra Anderson, appointed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, speaks at podium during the USPS First-Day-of Issue ceremony for the World War I stamp at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO last week.
Centennial Commission helps roll out USPS stamp honoring America's WWII Veterans
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission
WASHINGTON, DC — A tiny grass-roots campaign that started, in part, with the fledgling U.S. World War I Centennial Commission in 2013, has finally brought the rollout of a new U.S. Postal Service stamp to honor America's World War I veterans.
USPS's new "WWI: Turning the Tide" Forever StampThe new stamp, named by the U.S. Postal Service as "The WWI: Turning the Tide Forever Stamp", was offered to the public in a first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony hosted at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO.
Dr. Matthew Naylor, CEO of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, welcomed guests during the public ceremony and applauded the Postal Service's new stamp. "This is a fitting tribute, because it helps to tell a more complete World War I story. It was created in honor of the sacrifices of countless Americans—including those millions of supporters on the home front."
In addition to his role at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, Dr. Naylor is also a Commissioner with the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission. Fellow Commissioner Debra Anderson, VFW Quartermaster, provided remarks for the attendees about the stamp's origins.
Commissioner Anderson discussed the original effort to gain support for the stamp. "We were proud to help the effort. We knocked on as many doors as we could, and wrote as many letters as we could, to help these veterans to be remembered. We are thrilled that the Postal Service has chosen to provide them with this honor".
U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) agreed. He was an early supporter of the effort, and provided critical help and sponsorship. “I am grateful that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has chosen to honor our World War I veterans in such a way that will forever be marked in history. The USPS has a history of memorializing significant historical events, and now we can add the World War I stamp to its impressive collection. Each time we look upon this stamp, it will be a reminder of those who served and gave so much during World War I. My thanks to Congressmen Ted Poe (R-TX), and Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, who worked with me to cultivate this historic moment.”
Rep. Lamborn, Rep. Poe, and Rep. Cleaver, have been champions for the Centennial Commission, and for other efforts to remember the American men and women who served in World War I.
Read more: Centennial Commission helps roll out USPS stamp honoring America's WWII Veterans
National Womans Party Protests Outside White House During World War I
Suffragettes Walking Tour offered in DC by National Women’s History Museum
By Miranda Halpin
Staff Writer
The history of Women's Rights in America, and of World War I are directly linked.
Now, to help tell that story, there is a new hidden treasure for those who live near Washington DC or for those visiting: a walking tour presented by The National Women’s History Museum is now occurring every other week on Friday and once a month on Saturday.
The tour begins at the Ulysses S. Grant memorial on the national mall and ends just in front of the White House, in between over three hundred years of history in the making. The tour makes stops by the Newsuem, temperance water fountain, and even Pershing Park, the location of the upcoming World War One memorial!
Follow the footsteps of suffragettes Alice Paul, Ida B. Wells, and so many others as the guide recounts their war time efforts to win the vote. The tour features content for children and adults, they also have alternative walking routes for handicapped individuals who rely on their service dog. Here are some photos from the last tour, which happened Friday the 13.
Some of the highlights included the Trump Hotel, which could be seen in the original 1913 suffragette parade as the post office, which still runs via the park service for those who wish to climb the tower. The original temperance fountain put in by the Christian Temperance movement. The treasury building, which is where the parade would have ended in 1913, along with the original photos of her stand-ins in which she was dressed as Columbia.
Read more: Suffragettes Walking Tour being offered in DC by the National Women’s History Museum
Hollywood and World War I
Story of a Successful Trouble Maker: Humphrey Bogart
By Aaron Rosenthal
Staff Writer
Young Humphrey Bogart in his sailors uniform during his service in World War I. Photo: the-rear-view-mirror.com "Humphrey Bogart, The Man, The Legend, The Falcon."Humphrey Bogart was born to a wealthy family, and thus throughout his childhood and adolescence only ever attended private schools for America’s most elite. Young Humphrey was a terrible student and was uninterested in applying himself in school or in extra-curricular activities.
Even so, through his family’s good connections, he was bound for Yale University as he approached the end of his high school career.1
Unfortunately for his parents, Bogart had grown to detest elitism, and had become quite the rebel rouser in his teens. It is commonly reported that Bogart would both smoke and drink on campus regularly, and he would eventually be expelled from his school in his senior year, allegedly for throwing his head master into a pond on campus. This action lost him his opportunity to attend any college, let alone Yale, and led to the optionless Humphrey Bogart to join the US Navy in 1918.2
Humphrey Bogart served on the USS Leviathan, formerly the SS Vaterland, which was a German ocean liner until it was seized and renamed by the US Navy in April of 1917.2 Aboard this ship, by most accounts Bogart was an exemplary sailor. This was quite a distinction from how he was described as a student and spent his military career ferrying US soldiers and German Prisoners of War, POWs, to and from Europe.3
As a famous actor, Bogart was iconic for the scar on his lip and his subsequent lisp, the origin of which has developed some lore to it. There are two stories that are particularly popular, the first of which was that his ship was shelled by German coastal artillery, and his lip was hit by flying shrapnel.4 The second goes as such, that while transporting German POWs to the United States for incarceration, he was the victim of a prisoner’s attempted escape, and was apparently struck in the mouth with the prisoner’s handcuffs.5
A final and third story, that seems most likely, although less interesting, is that the scar was the result of a childhood injury and the previously mentioned stories were fabricated by the Hollywood studios to help build the actor’s image as a tough guy, a persona he often portrayed in his films.6
Dedication of the Joseph Oklahombi World War I Code Talker Bridge in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.
Twenty-three Oklahoma bridges being renamed to honor Choctaw WWI and WWII heroes
via the ChoctawNation.com web site
The Choctaw Nation made history earlier this year with the dedication of the Joseph Oklahombi World War I Code Talker Bridge in McCurtain County, Oklahoma.
Choctaw Code Talker Joseph OklahombiThe dedication is the first of 23 bridges being named after the 19 Choctaw Code Talkers from World War I and four from World War II, by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (DOT).
This is the biggest bridge undertaking in the history of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation,” said Nuchi Nashoba, president of the Choctaw Code Talkers Association.
For two years the association has worked closely with ODOT, the Oklahoma Legislature and the Choctaw Nation to complete this effort to honor those American soldiers who changed the course of the wars by using their Native language to communicate on the front lines. Choctaws were the first to use their spoken words over radio in combat in World War I.
“This is to keep our history alive and to remind people of the sacrifices they made for our freedom,” said Chief Gary Batton.
The ceremony got underway Thursday morning at the Choctaw Nation Community Center in Wright City. An estimated 300 people were in attendance, including descendants of the heroic veterans. Immediately after the ceremony at the center, a caravan of vehicles traveled to a sign unveiling at Horse Head Creek. The bridge location is where State Highway 98 crosses over the creek, 1.4 miles east of Wright City.
Among those attending the event were the Choctaw Tribal Council, tribal members, local city and county and state officials.
Both Chief Batton and Nashoba, who has recently read a portion of Dr. William C. Meadows’ 435-page manuscript documenting the Choctaw Code Talkers, took note of a story about Oklahombi.
Read more: First of twenty-three bridges dedicated to honor Choctaw WWI and WWII heroes
'Rock of the Marne' Soldiers earn moniker, help turn tide of war by summer 1918
By David Vergun
Army News Service
WASHINGTON — America's entry into World War I began with a year-long buildup beginning in April 1917. By late spring and early summer of 1918, that buildup was nearly complete.
In response, the Germans launched a series of offensives, desperate to defeat the French, British and other allies. But ultimately, they would be overwhelmed with the addition of fresh American troops and firepower, according to Brian F. Neumann, a historian at the Center of Military History who compiled the pamphlet: "The U.S. Army in the World War I Era."
One of the final German pushes occurred in the early morning hours of July 15, 1918, in the Champagne-Marne area of northern France, where German assault troops and artillery pounded the U.S. 3rd Division lines.
The weight of the attack came against Col. Edmund Butts' 30th Infantry and Col. Ulysses Grant McAlexander's 38th Infantry. After heavy fighting in the morning, when the 30th Infantry "inflicted horrendous casualties" on the Germans, Butts' men were forced back to a line along the hills where they stopped the Germans.
Elsewhere, five miles beyond the Marne River, McAlexander faced a more precarious position when the adjacent French division hastily retreated, leaving the 38th Infantry's right flank exposed, Neumann said.
Turning some of the regiment to defend that flank, McAlexander also had to deal with a penetration of his main line. Although fighting on three sides, the riflemen and machine gunners of the 38th Infantry held their ground, earning the sobriquet "Rock of the Marne."
The 3rd Infantry Division is still known by that moniker, and its Soldiers are proud of the heritage that inspired it.
By the end of that July 15th day, the 3rd Division had stopped the German attack.
Read more: 'Rock of the Marne' Soldiers earn moniker, help turn tide of war by summer 1918
World War I Memorial Charts Narrow Path Forward
By Andrew Wright
via The American Society of Landscape Architects web site
Aerial view of the approved conceptual design for the National WWI Memorial at Pershing Park / World War I Centennial CommissionIn a circumscribed win for backers of a new national World War I memorial at the site of Pershing Park in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) unanimously granted their support to the latest conceptual design for the memorial at their July 19 meeting.
The revised proposal was presented by David Rubin, ASLA, principal of Land Collective, who joined the World War I Centennial Commission (WWICC) design team in 2017. Other members of the team include architect Joe Weishaar, GWWO, and sculptor Sabin Howard.
The project has generated controversy due to its location at Pershing Park, which was designed by ASLA medal recipient M. Paul Friedberg, FASLA. The park, which opened in 1981, has fallen into disrepair in recent years as maintenance funds have been cut.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) and others have argued the park has historic value and should be rehabilitated as part of any memorial construction, arguing that the park can accommodate new memorial elements without fundamentally altering Friedberg’s original design. The National Park Service (NPS), which operates the park, determined in 2016 the park was eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, calling it “an exceptional example of a landscape design of the modern period.”
Backers of the new memorial have pointed to their Congressional mandate, which specifically designates Pershing Park as the site for a national WWI memorial, and have argued that preservation concerns should not take priority over an act of Congress. They have also emphasized that WWI is the only major conflict whose veterans are not memorialized in the nation’s capital.
The approved design concept retains a previously-proposed sculptural wall on the western edge of the park as the memorial’s signature element. The wall would be freestanding and placed in the western end of the park’s original pool, which is currently inoperable. The wall would incorporate cascading water features, referring to the original design’s waterfall at the western edge of the pool.