WWI DISPATCH January 1, 2019

update subscription preferences

View this in your browser

Dispatch header 800 - 061217

January 1, 2019

 

January 1, 2019 Memorial Header

Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
"Building a national WWI memorial in Washington proves to be an uphill battle"

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

James Glenday, North America Correspondent for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, is perplexed. In a recent article about the efforts of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission to build the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC, he writes: "To an Australian, the task sounds like it should be simple. Build a national World War I memorial in the centre of Washington DC in time for the 100th anniversary of the armistice. America is a nation that makes a point of honouring its veterans...So, how hard could building it be?" Click here to read how Glenday then answers his own rhetorical question, and get an excellent international perspective on the challenges the Commission has and is facing, and overcoming, to build the Memorial.


"Packard Dave" Lockard earns National Awards for his WWI trucks, storytelling

"Packard Dave" Lockard

"Packard Dave" Lockard, an old, old friend to the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, is an antique automobile/truck enthusiast. He owns several World War I-era Packard military vehicles, and serves as a historical expert on the topic of WWI military transportation. As a volunteer educator and history presenter, "Packard Dave" has been involved with telling the story of World War I to huge groups of people at auto-shows, parades, historical events, and special commemorations. Dave's great efforts to remember our American veterans, in his special way, has recently drawn the attention of the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA). They have bestowed Packard Dave with not one, but two, of their very highest national awards. The Commission's Director of Public Affairs Chris Isleib had a chance to speak to Dave about this latest recognition of his efforts.


Peter Jackson’s WWI Doc ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’ Sets New Box Office Records

They Shall Not Grow Old

The Deadline | Hollywood web site reports that the December 27 presentation of Peter Jackson’s WWI documentary They Shall Not Grow Old from Warner Bros. set a brand new record for Fathom Events, making an estimated $3.1 million-plus from two showtimes at 1,122 theaters. That’s the highest-grossing single-day ever for a documentary playing via Fathom, and one of the top-grossing single-night presentations of any kind from the events company. Originally, the Dec. 17 presentation of They Shall Not Grow Old set the record for Fathom with $2.3M. Click here to read more about the record-setting and -breaking performances for the film, and what that may portend for the nation-wide general release of the film in January.


Library of Congress makes Updates to World War I: A Wartime Clipping Service

LOC Newspaper Archive

The Library of Congress has announced that the massive collection, World War History: Newspaper Clippings, 1914 to 1926, is now fully digitized and freely available on the Library of Congress website. The 79,621 pages are packed with war-related front pages, illustrated feature articles, editorial cartoons, and more. You can search by keywords, browse the content chronologically, and download pages. Click here to read more about the tremendous effort that has made the entire collection accessible worldwide only a few weeks after the 100th anniversary of the armistice with Germany ending World War I.


"Pershing’s Own” US Army Band musicians present Chamber Music to Commemorate Armistice Centennial

Staff Sergeant Justin Polybank

On Thursday, January 17th 2019, musicians from The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will present a chamber music concert commemorating the centennial anniversary of the World War I Armistice. The performance takes place at The National Archives’ William G. McGowan Theater, located at 701 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20002, at 7:00 PM. The program features classical chamber music of the group of French composers known as “Les Six.” US World War I Centennial Commission intern Madison Menz spoke with Staff Sergeant Justin Polybank (left) of the U.S. Army Band, about the upcoming concert, and its importance.


Re-enacting the Battle of Jutland: U.S. Naval War College tackles lessons from a decisive World War I sea battle

Jutland

A U.S. Naval War College war game based on a much-studied World War I battle was held at the Queen’s House at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, U.K. in November. The participants included officials from U.S. Naval War College, which has long and historic ties to the 1916 Battle of Jutland. The re-enactment employed the same methods and technology used a century ago to understand the maritime strategy of what was the largest naval surface engagement of World War I. The battle was fought between Great Britain and Germany off the coast of Denmark, at the cost of nearly 10,000 lives. Click here to read more about the reenactment, and the organizers and participants learned from the exercise.


From the World War I Centennial News Podcast

A Discussion with Sir Hew Strachan

Strachan

In December 14th's WW1 Centennial News Podcast, Episode 101, host Theo Mayer spoke with Sir Hew Strachan (left), an esteemed professor of International Relations, renowned Great War expert, and prolific author from the United Kingdom. This detailed and engaging discussion delves into the global political consequences of the war, including the fate of several broken empires and the ascendancy of the United States on the world stage. Click here to read a complete transcript of the entire interview.

American Battle Monuments Commission

Mike Knapp

In December 14th's WW1 Centennial News Podcast, Episode 101, host Theo Mayer spoke with Mike Knapp (left), Chief of Historical Services for the ABMC. The conversation covered topics such as the origins of the ABMC, and America's approach to honoring its war dead following the cessation of hostilities. Click here to read a complete transcript of the entire interview.

Gold Star Mothers:
An Interview with Candy Martin

Candy Martin

In December 14th's WW1 Centennial News Podcast, Episode 101, host Theo Mayer spoke with Candy Martin, past National President of the American Gold Star Mothers, about the history and mission of this special organization- especially as it relates to the War That Changed the World. Click here to read a complete transcript of the entire interview.


WWI Centennial NEWS Podcast

Podcast Logo New

The WW1 Centennial News Podcast is about WW1 THEN: 100 years ago this week, and it's about WW1 NOW: News and updates about the centennial and the commemoration. 

Available on our web siteiTunesGoogle Play, PodbeanTuneInStitcher Radio on Demand.  Spotify  listen on Youtube. New - Comment and ask questions via twitter @TheWW1podcast

1919 New Year Poster

Episode #103
Favorite Segments of 2018 - Part 1

Host: Theo Mayer

This New Year week, and next week, we have a two-episode special for you.

We have pulled together some of our favorite stories and segments from 2018!

They are presented in chronological order. Part 1 comes out this week - the last week of 2018, and Part 2 will publish next week - the first week of 2019.

This episode includes:

  • January 11,  Episode #54 - "Wilson’s 14 points" |@ 01:10

  • Same week, Episode #54 - “A Century In The Making” with Sabin Howard |@ 05:15

  • March 2, Episode #61 - "March 1917 Preview" with Dr. Edward Lengel, Katherine Akey and Theo Mayer |@ 11:25

  • Same week, #61 - "The Fighting in Russia" with Mike Shuster |@ 22:45

  • March 9, Episode #63 - "Alvin York's Crisis of Conscience" with Dr. Edward Lengel |@ 26:25

  • April 4 Episode #66 - "PTSD Among the Pilots" with Mark Wilkins |@ 33:10

  • May 4  Episode #70 - "The Big Influenza Pandemic" with Kenneth C. Davis  |@ 40:05

  • Same week, Episode #70 - "The Story of Eddie Rickenbacker"  |@ 47:20

Literature in WWI This Week

Wwrite Blog Logo

Not One, Two Years of WWrite in Review! January 2017 - January 2019
Part 1: WWI and Today's Veteran Writers

By Jennifer Orth-Veillon, Blog Curator

"Every veteran deserves to be remembered" states the United States WWI Centennial Commission in its efforts to construct a memorial in Washington D.C. Since 2013, the WWICC has worked to make sure that WWI veterans secure their place in American's collective memory and history. Over the month of January, to prepare for the remaining months of the blog, WWrite will publish a “WWrite Blog: Two Years in Review of WWI and Writing,” a series that will document and synthesize the 100+ blog contributions from January 2017 to January 2019. Read this first installment of the series that highlights contributions from U.S. veteran authors, who discuss WWI's influence on their life and writing. Robert Olen Butler, Elliot Ackerman, Brian Turner, Tracy Crow, Brian Castner, and more!


Doughboy MIA for week of Dec. 31

Preston Woodward

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Monday's MIA this week is is Private Preston Woodward. Born in Johnston County, North Carolina, Woodard was inducted into the army on October 6th, 1917 at Pine Level, NC, and did his training at Camp Jackson. He received further instruction at Camp Sevier and was assigned to Company D, 119th Infantry, 30th 'Old Hickory' Division before being sent for overseas embarkation with them on May 20th, 1918. Brigaded with the British Expeditionary Force, the 30th Division saw plenty of action in the British War Zone in Northern France and Belgium all that summer and early fall. Woodard was reported killed in action on October 10th, 1918, and was buried where he fell. There is considerable confusion concerning his case, as the British first had charge of his recovery before American Grave Registration personnel took over to bring him to an American cemetery. His remains appear to have gone unidentified.

Would you like to help solve PVT Woodard's case? Then why not 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.


Official WWI Centennial Merchandise

Lapel pin

Centennial Commemorative Lapel Pin

 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.


Double Donation Aircraft new


Irving Alexander Slicklen

A Story of Service from the Stories of Service section of ww1cc.org

Irving Alexander Slicklen

Submitted by: Gayle Reynolds {great-niece}

Irving Alexander Slicklen born around 1903. Irving Slicklen served in World War 1 with the United States Coast Guard. The enlistment was in 1918 and the service was completed in 1918.

Story of Service

Irving was said to be tall and looked older than his actual age, so being very patriotic he decided he'd try and enlist after school one day. He obviously pulled the wool over the eyes of those in the recruitment office and found himself an instant member of the Coast Guard. Puffed out with pride, he went home and told his mother.

Great-Grandma Slicklen was so appalled that a 15-year old could have been signed up for war that she grabbed her coat and dashed out of the house, forgetting she was wearing her bedroom slippers. She ran all the way to the recruitment office, where she breathlessly begged for Irving to be released from service. Unfortunately she was told that he had signed the official papers, which were already being processed, there was no way he could be released from active duty.

His father, an attorney, was then called home from his office and put his argumentative skills to work to no avail. Since Irving felt so honored to be part of the Coast Guard, giving a better argument for his service than his father had against it, he was reluctantly granted his parents' blessings.

Read Irving Alexander Slicklen's entire Story of Service here.

Submit your family's Story of Service here.