WWI DISPATCH January 22, 2019

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January 22, 2019

 

January 1, 2019 Memorial Header

"We'll have about as much time to raise the funds for the Memorial as the U.S. had in the field 'Over There.'"

Phil Mazzara

This week, we have the remarkable good fortune to introduce our new Director of Development, Mr. Phillip Mazzara. He is a seasoned professional in the fundraising community, with a long history of success. He will lead the campaign to raise the money for construction of the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC. We had the chance to ask Phil a few questions about his background, the challenges of his new position, and why remembering the service of America's World War I veterans is important to him.


The Dawn of the Red Arrow book traces the Wisconsin National Guard's role in WWI

Faltinson

Those who have been following the WW1CC newsletter and website know that there has been a terrific weekly series of articles appearing in social media, and on our website, entitled THE DAWN OF THE RED ARROW which traces the history of the Wisconsin National Guard in World War I. The series was created by MAJ Brian J. Faltinson, Public Affairs Officer, Wisconsin National Guard, and shows an amazing amount of teamwork, research depth, and insight. Now, the entire series has been edited together into a great comprehensive eBook. We had a few moments to talk to Major Faltinson about the book, and about his efforts to remember the WWI veterans from Wisconsin.


Convoys celebrate centennial of WWI trip that led to the US Interstate System

Convoy vehicles interstate

The first Transcontinental Army Motor Transport Expedition in the summer of 1919 did make it from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco, though it arrived several days late, abandoned nine vehicles and all but one of its kitchen trailers, destroyed 88 bridges, and had more than 200 unintentional off-road incidents, all due largely to the undeveloped (or lack of) roads along the way. Still, as a then-Lt. Col. Dwight Eisenhower wrote in his report, among the people he met while participating in the expedition, “It seemed that there was a great deal of sentiment for the improving of highways, and from the standpoint of promoting this sentiment, the trip was an undoubted success.” Within 40 years, that sentiment became a reality with the country’s interstate highway system, ribbons of road stretching from coast to coast and border to border that have — for better or worse — transformed the country and the lives of the people who live in it. Now, a century after that 62-day cross-country slog, at least two caravans will retrace the steps of Ike and the nearly 300 other men who took part in the expedition.


"You have to get it right because history demands that we remember it accurately in order to learn from it."

Wayne Stables

Among the most incredible aspects of the ground-breaking new World War I documentary THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD is the restoration and colorization of the original 100 year-old imagery. The colorization process was supervised by Wayne Stables, who is a towering figure in the world of cinematic post-production. Wayne started working at Weta Digital in 1994 and has worked on projects including The Frighteners, Contact, The Lord of The Rings trilogy, Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, and Steven Spielberg’s The BFG. He has recently worked as a Visual Effects Supervisor on Game of Thrones; Beyond the Wall, and is currently working on James Cameron's Avatar sequels. Wayne is an active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has been nominated for a BAFTA and numerous Visual Effects Society awards. Wayne kindly spoke to us about his work with the incredible Peter Jackson World War I documentary.


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

Teddy Roosevelt dies in January 1919

Episode #106
Highlights: Welcome Home, It's Prohibition!

Host: Theo Mayer

The Headlines 100 Years Ago, Host | @02:00

The 308th Regiment’s Journey Home - Dr. Edward Lengel | @12:00

Wilson Goes to Rome - Mike Shuster | @19:10

First into Germany: SGT Roy Holtz - And he did it on a Harley - Host | @23:15(Courtesy of author Robert Laplander)

A Century in the Making: The Winning Team Part 2 - Joe Weishaar & Sabin Howard | @30:50

Introducing Phil Mazzara - Host | @40:00

The Story of a Memorial Hunter - Bob Shay | @42:30


Literature in WWI This Week

Wwrite Blog Logo

Not One, But Two Years of WWrite in Review! Part 4: Women Writing WWI

Over 22,000 American women served as nurses during WWI. The Navy and Marines accepted 13,000 women into active duty. Thousands have written about their experience, which has inspired contemporary women scholars and writers to explore the war through research and art. This is the 4th installment of the series, “WWrite Blog: Two Years in Review of WWI and Writing,” that will document and synthesize the 100+ blog contributions from January 2017. This week features posts about women's incredible involvement in WWI as fighters and writers.


Official WWI Centennial Merchandise

Navy ¼ Zipper Fleece Sweatshirt

Navy Blue ¼ Zipper Fleece Sweatshirt

Inspired by the iconic image of a U.S. Doughboy, you can wear your American pride with this Made in the USA ¼ zipper fleece sweatshirt. An informal term for a member of the U.S. Army or Marine Corps, “Doughboys” especially used to refer to the American Expeditionary Forces in World War One. Largely comprised of young men who had dropped out of school to join the army, this poignant lone silhouette of a soldier in trench warfare serves as a reminder of those who sacrificed so much one century ago.

Sweatshirt features: Navy with white Doughboy embroidery. 80% cotton/20% polyester,  9.5 Oz. High quality heavy weight pre-shrunk fabric. Sweatshirt has ¼  zip pullover with cadet collar and silver metal zipper. Ribbed cuffs and waistband with spandex. Cover-seamed arm holes. Mens’ sizes available Small and Medium. Proceeds from the sale of this item will help to fund 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 Motorcycles


John Ora Johnson

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

John Ora Johnson

 

Submitted by: Kathleen Susanne Johnston {grand daughter}

John Ora Johnson was born around 1898 or so. John Ora Johnson served in World War 1 with the United States Army. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1919.

Story of Service

My grandmother, who insisted on being called John Ora, was part of the Emory University U.S. Army Unit that served from 1917-1919, principally in France.

She was enlisted during her nursing training by a Dr. Green, who said she was the best surgical nurse he had ever trained. It seems, from family legend, that she was rather too young to be in the U.S. Army as a nurse, but Dr. Green insisted, and she was shipped overseas via the Canadian Maritimes to escape German U Boats.

I have photos of her at this point and later. She is noted in the official history of the Emory Unit as R.n., a.n.c., and as having enlisted on April 15, 1918. She is listed in the history as available through address to the Davis-Fischer Santarium, in Atlanta, where she was a superintendent.

Read John Ora Johnson's entire Story of Service here.

Submit your family's Story of Service here.