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Gift from French President recalls WWI USMC heroics in Battle of Belleau Wood
On his visit to Washington DC this week, French President Emmanuel Macron brought a special gift to the White House -- one that bears great World War I significance: a European Sessile Oak sapling from the Belleau Wood in France, in which more than 9,000 American Marines died in battle one hundred years ago this June. The two Presidents and their respective First Ladies appeared on the South Lawn to ceremonially throw dirt on the site where the tree, about a meter and a half tall and between five and 10 years old, had been planted. "The forest is a memorial site and important symbol of the sacrifice the United States made to ensure peace and stability in Europe," First Lady Melania Trump's office said. 'France is a very special country,' President Trump said. 'It's a great honor.' Belleau Wood was the first battle in WWI that employed a majority of U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen for the Allies, and their success in this difficult battle -- against some of Germany's most experienced combat veterans -- established the Marine Corps as a world-class fighting organization. Read more about the tree planting and the Battle of Belleau Wood here.
Building a World War I tank in the garage
On Saturday May 12th, 2018, the Pennsylvania World War One Centennial Committee will continue to observe the 100th Anniversary of the first World War through sponsorship of a World War One History Symposium at the United States Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA. This event will feature four unique and engaging presentations by retired U.S. Army Major Kurt Sellers, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel John D. Shepard, Gloria J. House, author of Spirit of Philadelphia: A 100th Anniversary of WWI Story, and Barbara Selletti, genealogist, historic researcher, film producer, and academic librarian at Neumann University. Read more about this incredible historical opportunity.
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Wallingford, CT will host a ceremony next month to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of former town resident Maj. Raoul Lufbery, World War I flying ace. A special military parade and plaque dedication ceremony will be held May 5 to honor Lufbery. In 1916, Lufbery joined a group of American volunteers – the Lafayette Escadrille – that fought with French forces for nearly two years before America entered the war. Within three months, Lufbery recorded five official kills and went on to to record 17, becoming America’s first ace pilot in the war, according to the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Read more about how Wallingford will be honoring its native son here.
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How did York Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan get its name? The 33-block swath between the Queensboro Bridge and Asphalt Green is actually named for Sgt. Alvin C. York, the citizen‐soldier-hero of the U.S. Expeditionary Forces in World War I whose exploits 100 years ago, under withering German machine gun fire, won him a Medal of Honor. On April 11, 2018, Alvin York's grandson, Col. Gerald York, participated in a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the street renaming and recalled York Avenue’s colorful history as part of the celebrations to mark the end of the war. Read more about the NYC ceremony here.
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For North Carolina State University alumni and military veterans, the May 1 U.S. World War I Centennial Commission celebration at NC State’s Memorial Tower is more than just a half-hour event on the list of 100 worldwide commemorations about the end of the great conflict. It’s an opportunity for all to learn about the sacrifices made by NC State students and alumni, and the commitment that the school has made since its inception to military service and leadership. Nearly 2,000 students and alumni served in the global war, and the Belltower includes the names of the 34 who died in combat, in training and from sickness. Read more about the May 1 World War I ceremony at NC State here.
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Tiajuana King Cochnauer, a registered Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma artist, presented Telling Our Own Story: Choctaw Code Talkers, at an international conference in Reims, France, in April. Reims is near the World War I battlefields where the 19 young Choctaws from Oklahoma confounded the German army by transmitting messages in the Choctaw language. Their successful efforts in October 1918 made them known as the original Code Talkers. With Cochnauer at the Reims event was Luke Clay (right), great-great-grandson of Tobias Frazier, one of the original Code Talkers. Read more about this commemorative event here.
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A man scanning public land in Wanaquen New Jersey with a metal detector made an unusual discovery -- a dirt-covered World War I service medal that apparently belonged to a former borough resident. After finding the medal, the man turned it into Wanaque police. Cleaning off the medal, the police found the recipient's name, and are now looking for the veteran's family. Read more about the discovery and efforts to send the medal home here.
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Episode #68
War In The Sky
The Mystery of the USS Cyclops | @ 02:40
Submarine Stories | @ 04:55
Learning to command on the front - Mike Shuster | @ 07:20
The 2nd Division: Army and Marines - Dr. Edward Lengel | @ 11:40
War In The Sky: Including the Red Baron goes down | @ 17:00
Midway Village reenactment - Dave Fornell | @ 20:25
Stars & Stripes newspaper - Robert H. Rheid | @ 27:25
The Great Forgotten Play - Karen & Kacie Devaney | @ 34:00
Speaking WWI: Pillbox | @ 39:25
Education Newsletter: Issue #12 | @ 41:05
WWI War Tech: Interrupter Gear | @ 42:05
Dispatch Newsletter: Headline Highlights | @ 44:30
The Centennial Buzz in Social Media - Katherine Akey | @ 47:05
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A man is only missing if he is forgotten.
Monday's MIA this week is 2nd Lt. Otho Bradford Place. Born March 27th, 1893 in Bremen, Indiana, Place served as a lieutenant in Company G/305th Infantry/77th Division. During an attack along the Agron River about a kilometer north of St. Juvin on November 1st, 1918, Lt. Place was killed instantly by machine gun fire to the head. His soldiers buried him along a hedge, marking his grave with his cane. One of his dog tags was affixed to the cane, while the other was left around his neck. When GRS searchers went to look for him following the war, they were unable to locate a grave based on the information provided. However, a recommendation was made to examine a certain set of remains recovered by the French in the general vicinity and reburied in a local cemetery, where they had been recovered by GRS and were then at the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery; the circumstances of initial recovery and basic physical evidence of which seemed to point toward being those of Lt. Place. There is no evidence that has been found to this point which indicates that this recommendation was ever followed up on, therefore Doughboy MIA has classified this case as open/in suspension pending the location of additional paperwork. In August, 1931, Lt. Place’s mother went on a Gold Star Pilgrimage to see her sons name on the Walls of the Missing at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery at Romage-sous-Montfaucon. American Legion Post 191 in Bremen, Indiana is known as the Otho B. Place Post
Can you spare just ten dollars? Give 'Ten For Them' to Doughboy MIA and help us make a full accounting of the 4,423 American service personnel still listed as missing in action from WW1. Make your tax deductible donation now, with our thanks.
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Centennial Commemorative Lapel Pin $4.95
Proudly Wearing the WWI 100 Years lapel pin is a fantastic way to let folks serving in the military, along with veterans, know that we still honor those who served our country one hundred years ago.
This satin nickel lapel pin is a simple, yet meaningful, way to display your pride and remember those who sacrificed throughout our nation’s great history. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item goes towards funding the building of the national World War One Memorial in Washington, D.C.
This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial.
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Peter Harry Marvrias
Submitted by: Steven Hull {grandson}
Peter Harry Marvriaś was born around 1887, Peter Marvrias served in World War 1 with the the United States Army . The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.
Story of Service
My grandfather, Peter (Pete) H. Marvrias, died when I was four. My recollections of him are vague, but I remember him as a kind, fun loving person. Growing up, two pictures were hung in my grandmother’s bedroom: one a formal portraiture of Pete in his World War I Army uniform; and the other a showing a kneeling soldier looking up at Columbia, the female representation of the United States. In her right hand was a sword resting on the soldier’s right shoulder. At the top an inscription reads, “Columbia Gives To Her Son The Accolade Of The New Chivalry Of Humanity”. At the bottom in hand written scrip was “Peter H. Mavrias, Pvt, Co. H. 167th Inf.”, followed by the words “Served With Honor In The World War And Was Wounded In Action”, signed “Woodrow Wilson”.
Pete Marvriaś life was an adventure, not unlike that of hundreds of thousands of other early 20th century immigrants beaconing to Lady Liberty’s call ‘…give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses”. He was born August 4, 1887 in Vervena, Greece. Pete traveled alone to the United States, knowing that America meant freedom and opportunity. It was 1903. He was sixteen.
Read Peter Harry Marvriaś's entire Story of Service here.
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