A Newburyport, MA city native has found himself at the center of a living history of World War I. The United States World War I Centennial Commission has been working to produce projects and activities commemorating the Great War’s centennial anniversary ever since it was created by an act of Congress in 2013. Sculptor Sabin Howard has been commissioned to create the National World War I memorial in Washington, DC, and has been using a first-of-its-kind, 160-camera “photogrammetry” rig to do so. Howard has been working along with roughly 35 actors who are portraying Word War I soldiers for the project, and Newburyport native Paul Emile Cendron is one of those Doughboys. Click here to read more about how a Massachusetts actor from a small town will play a big role in the National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC.

Our friends at the legendary American Legion Post 43 in Los Angeles have great reason to celebrate. They recently completed a multi-million dollar top-to-bottom renovation of their landmark clubhouse -- not the least of which was their spectacular 1920's-era theater space. To kick things off right, they agreed to host, as their first major event, the multi-day annual Turner Classic Movies TCM Classic Film Festival.  The film that was picked to introduce this year's film festival was none other than Sergeant York, the classic Gary Cooper film produced in 1941. And of course, to introduce this great film, the film festival picked none other than our friend, Colonel Gerald York, grandson of Sgt Alvin York, and his uncle, Andrew Jackson York, son of the WWI hero. Click here to read more about the reconstruction, the new mission, and the grand opening of the American Legion Post 43 clubhouse.

Anna Bonaparte was 4 years old when her father James Wilkie died on board the USS Tampa on Sept. 26, 1918. Though she didn’t have many memories of her father, she constantly spoke about him and his service in the Coast Guard, said her son Wallace Bonaparte. Next month, Bonaparte, a former Army captain, will travel from his home in Charleston, S.C., to Washington to receive a Purple Heart in honor of his grandfather, as part of an initiative to recognize the 115 service members who died more than 100 years ago on board the ship. Anna Bonaparte died in 2012, and Wallace can only imagine how proud she would have been to see her father receive a medal for his service. Click here to read more about the upcoming Coast Guard ceremony, and the Coast Guardsmen who will receive their long past-due Purple Heart medals.

A soldier from Torrington, CT who died in WWI will be honored this summer by a local high school student as part of the Connecticut State Library’s “Digging Into History“ project. Lucas Rodriguez, 16 (left), will join a group of other teenagers from the state who will travel to France where certain American soldiers faced the German army for the first time. The group will volunteer in the village of Seicheprey where the troops dug trenches into the forest soil in April 1918 as a measure of protection. As part of the history project, Rodriguez is researching the military history of John Ryan, of Torrington, with the help of the Torrington Historical Society. Click here to read more about the Connecticut State Library project, and how Rodriguez's interest in WWI was kindled by stories he heard from his family about their military service.

The University of Virginia was in the national spotlight this month for becoming the National Champions of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. We are thrilled for them -- and we were also thrilled to find out that they have a special World War I-related project underway at their campus! As part of collaborative project called “ReSounding the Archives” between UVA, Virginia Tech and George Mason University, students from each school researched and analyzed World War I songs from UVA’s archives, and George Mason students recorded studio versions. Click here to read more about how this remarkable World War I musical project has become a resounding success.

In April 5th's edition of the World War I Centennial News Podcast, Episode 117, author Alan Axelrod joined the show to speak at length about George Creel, the publisher of the government's Official Bulletin and one of the most powerful war-time Americans. Axelrod is the author of more than 150 books,  and one of those books that Alan wrote is called Selling the Great War: The Making of American Propaganda. It's the bio of George Creel. Podcast host Theo Mayer and Axelrod had such an interesting conversation that it had to be broken out into two parts. Click here to read the transcript of part one of the discussion of George Creel, the man who sold America on World War I.

In March 29th's edition of the World War I Centennial News Podcast, Episode 116, host Theo Mayer told the story of the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean; a tremendous feat made possible by innovations in the flight technology that resulted from The War That Changed the World. On June 15, 1919, John Alcock and Arthur Brown (seen at left, taking mail in Canada for delivery to the UK) flew into history and a nice payday as they successfully crossed the Atlantic non-stop in spite of fog and ice. Click here to read the entire transcript of the discussion of how the aftermath of World War I had profound effects on technology and new technology-driven industries like aerospace.

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 #118
Highlights: American Music in WWI

Host - Theo Mayer

100 Years Ago This Week - Host | @ 02:10
Peace Treaty Draft Goes To Print - Mike Shuster | @ 09:05
George Creel: Selling The War, Part 2 - Alan Axelrod | @ 12:55
War Memoirs from WWI: Florence Farmborough - Dr. Edward Lengel | @ 24:20
“Hello Girls” Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019 - Senator Jon Tester | @ 30:00
New Website: American Music In WWI - Joshua Villanueva | @ 36:05
Featured from the Dispatch - Host | @ 44:55

History Between Humor and Tragedy: Musings on Robert Graves' Memoir, Goodbye to All That

By David James

For Afghanistan veteran and writer, David James, there is something profoundly important to remember about the tragedy WWI, though sometimes the easiest way to deal with tragedy, if not by outrage, stoicism, or escapism, involves a disarming sense of humor and irreverence.

James brings up these four issues in his post by focusing on Robert Graves’ memoirs Goodbye to All That, which traces Graves' early life in England, his participation in the trenches of WWI, and his post-war experiences.

Read History Between Humor and Tragedy: Musings on Robert Graves' Memoir, Goodbye to All That at WWrite this week!

"It's the Flu!" American war worker uses dark humor to describe reactions to the deadliest pandemic in human history.

An estimated 1/3 of all humans worldwide were infected with Spanish influenza in the 1918-1919 pandemic.

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Monday's Doughboy MIA this week is Private Zibbia Wilson. Sometimes also spelled Zibba or Zibbia, Wilson was born 15 April 1895 at Mill Springs, Floyd County, North Carolina, the son of Thomas and Doris Wilson. At the time he was drafted, he was a farmer, working on one of two farms his family worked. Tall and slender, with blue eyes and black hair, on his draft card he initially tried to claim exemption due to nervous indigestion. Nonetheless, he was inducted and sent to Company E, 120^th Infantry Regiment, 30^th Division, sailing for France on 12 May 1918 from Boston, Massachusetts. The circumstances behind Private Wilson’s MIA status are unclear, but one report has him dying of disease while another has him killed in action. Nothing else is known at this time.

Want to help us shed some light on Pvt. Wilson’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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