A brand-new “Great Women Sculpture Initiative” (GWSI), which aims to change the way women are portrayed in sculpture, is celebrating female leadership in human rights, civil rights, and women’s rights. The sculptor for the national World War I Memorial in Washington, DC, Sabin Howard, is a key player in the movement. Howard and his associates have started the process to create a body of work of female sculptures to be shown as a traveling exhibit to museums. A book and documentary about the process of creation will follow.  Click here to read the entire Architectural Digest article about this women-focused artistic effort.

Attorney Mark Hough (left), who succeeded in 1978 in lobbying for Congressional recognition for the Hello Girls' military service, nearly fifty years after their return from WWI, was one of three people recognized by the U.S. Army Women’s Foundation as they inducted, collectively, the U.S. Army Telephone Operators of World War I -- AKA the "Hello Girls" -- into the Army Women’s Hall of Fame March 7th on Capitol Hill. Along with Hough, also recognized were Elizabeth Cobbs, author of the definitive "Hello Girls" book, and Jim Theres, director of the award-winning documentary, “The Hello Girls”. Click here to read more about the ceremonies honoring the Hello Girls, and the three special partners of the United States World War I Centennial Commission in the Task Force for gaining Congressional Gold Medal recognition for the Hello Girls.

Also last week, Elizabeth Cobbs brought the Hello Girls message to a broader public audience. Cobbs published an OpEd in the Washington Post that urged Congress to support the measure introduced by Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) to honor the women of the WWI U.S. Army Signal Corps Signal Corps with the Congressional Gold Medal.  Click here to read the OpEd and find out more about the proposed Congressional Gold Medal.

A restored World War I memorial in Hudson, Ohio recognizes 81 veterans of Great War, with help from U.S. World War I Centennial Commission partner reenactors Seth and Garrett Moore. The restoration of this memorial was part of the Commission's 100 Cities/100 Memorials program. Click here to read more about the unveiling of the restored bronze tablet containing the names of 80 men and one woman from Hudson who served in World War I.

The Navy celebrates the centennial of the Board of Decorations and Medals. Founded March 6, 1919, the board was established by order of then-Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels to standardize the awarding of medals to service members for extraordinary acts of heroism or distinguished service. The Board was established following the World War I Armistice, and Congress’ creation in February 1919 of two new decorations: The Navy Cross and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Click here to read more about how the century-old Board of Decorations and Medals "guarantees authenticity of the high tributes we bestow on our Nation’s warfighters.”

A new Exhibit opening today at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO looks at the challenging transition for American armed forces personnel from War-time duty to civilian life after World War I through archival materials. The U.S. government offered financial, vocational and social resources to the nearly 5 million servicemen and women who began demobilizing in 1919 after nearly half served overseas in the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF). Click here to read more about this new look at the government and private efforts 100 years ago to the assist returning veteran’s in becoming a “civvie” again.

In March 8th's edition of the World War I Centennial News Podcast, Episode 113, host Theo Mayer spoke with writer Elizabeth Foxwell about stories and experiences of female service in WWI, many of which have been neglected or forgotten. Foxwell, a journalist and author focusing on the stories and neglected accounts of and by women who served in various roles in the war. Click here to read a transcript of the entire interview.

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 site, iTunes, Google Play, Podbean, TuneIn, Stitcher Radio on Demand.  Spotify  listen on Youtube. New - Comment and ask questions via twitter @TheWW1podcast

Episode 113
Highlights: Women's Diverse Roles

Host - Theo Mayer

100 Years Ago This Week - Host | @02:15

Getting to a League Of Nations Draft - Mike Shuster | @10:35

Being Hospitalized in France - Dr. Edward Lengel | @14:30

“Digital Technology and the Sculptor’s Art” Part 2 - Host | @20:50

Courtesy of the author: Traci Slatton

K9 Veterans Day and Our Poll | @35:15

Women’s Diverse Roles in WWI - Elizabeth Foxwell | @37:15

Hello Girls Documentary Update - Jim Theres | @45:05

Writing in the Post-War World of Agatha Christie

By Christopher Huang

Agatha Christie has won the world over with her fabulous detective novels and her star character, Hercule Poirot.

Less renowned is her time in WWI as a nurse, an experience that, without a doubt, inspired her narrative universe. Christopher Huang, the author of A Gentleman's Murder, a detective story about a murder in a gentlemen's club of British 1914-1918 veterans, discusses the influence of WWI on Agatha Christie's work. Uncover Huang's post about one of the greatest detective writers of all time at WWrite this week!

From Behind Their Lines

Celebrate Pi-Day (3.14) this week with an American doughboy poem from WWI: "Home Is Where the Pie Is!".

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Monday's Doughboy MIA this week is Private Percy E. Southard. Born in March, 1897, the son of Henry and Minerva Southard of Reidsville, North Carolina, Private Percy Southard was already a member of the 3^rd Regiment of Infantry, North Carolina National Guard, when America entered WW1 in April, 1917. His unit – Company G of Reidsville – was federalized on 06AUG1917 and sent to Camp Sevier, South Carolina to prepare for overseas service. There the company became Company G, 120^th Infantry Regiment, 30^th Division. Fighting strength for the units of the 30^th were then built up by drafts of men coming in from Camps Jackson and Taylor. Private Southard shipped ‘Over There’ on 12MAY1918 aboard the transport Bohemian, departing from Boston, Mass. Overseas, the division was brigaded with the British, first in the Ypres Sector up in Belgium. By August, however, they had been transferred to the British 4^th Brigade, in the Somme Sector, to take part in the coming ‘Final Offensive.’

At 5:50 am on 29SEPT1918, the 120^th Infantry was sent over the top in the area of Bellicourt, near the St. Quentin Canal. It was a section of the line the Germans believed impossible to break and the fighting was intense. Nevertheless, by 11:45 am that day  the 120^th had taken Bellicourt. The price had been high though – of the 250 man Company G, some 120 of them had been killed or wounded. One of the killed was Private Percy Southard. Nothing further is known of his case at this time.

His death was announced in the papers back home on 01NOV1918, while his father did not receive official word until 12NOV1918. His mother had died (ostensibly of TB) in June, 1918, while Percy was overseas.

Want to help solve Pvt. Southard’s case? Consider making a donation 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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