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CFA approves "Soldier's Journey" sculpture for National WWI Memorial
The new National World War I Memorial for Washington, DC continues to roll ahead strongly. Last week, the World War I Centennial Commission provided an update briefing to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on a host of design concept details. The meeting at CFA headquarters drew a number of attendees -- journalists, architects, landscape designers, urban planners, art critics -- to hear the latest news from the project. The Commission's speakers were led by Commissioner Dr. Libby O'Connell, and included sculptor Sabin Howard, who brought his new scale-model maquette, as well as construction team members. Click here to read more about the CFA meeting and the outcomes from it that advance the construction of the Memorial.
Lest Sligo Forgets campaign reconnects local WWI hero with American family
If Spottswood Poles had been born a century later, he would have been a superstar. Instead, most people in his hometown of Winchester, PA have no idea who he was or what he did. But that’s about to change. Poles, an African-American who became a hero on ballfields and battlefields alike, will be recognized by city officials and the local baseball team this summer with a historical marker and the naming of a road for him in. Poles was a decorated hero in the Army’s 369th Infantry Regiment — the legendary Harlem Hellfighters — during World War I, and many argue that "the black Ty Cobb’” should be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Click here to read more about Spottswood Poles' feats as a soldier and a ballplayer, and the long-overdue recognition planned by his home town.
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Major League Baseball is adding a poppy to its Memorial Day uniforms — a symbol that has been used since World War I to honor those who died in war — with the phrase “Lest We Forget.” These will appear on teams’ regular uniforms. The caps will feature a special stars-and-stripes Memorial Day patch. For Memorial Day, beyond the poppies and cap patches, teams will wear their usual uniforms. On Memorial Day the individual teams will present on-field tributes featuring their own local military heroes. That includes first pitches and on-field presentations. Click here to read more about these new Memorial Day uniforms, as well as MLB's plans for special uniforms for games on Armed Forces Day.
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Baseball was an important part of the lives of soldiers involved in World War I. When millions of U.S. troops deployed to Europe, they brought with them their love of the game and promptly addressed the absence of diamonds. “They made hundreds of fields. ... The French would stand around and wonder ‘What the heck are these crazy guys doing?’ ” said Al Barnes (left), author of “Play Ball! Doughboys and Baseball in the Great War,” to an appreciative audience at the Virginia War Memorial, which hosted “Play Ball! 100 Years of Baseball in Virginia.” By the war’s end, there were more than 4,000 teams made of military personnel — including major leaguers, minor leaguers and Negro League players — competing in Europe, according to Barnes. Click here to read more about how baseball kept the Dougboys connected to home, and emerged from World War I as "America's Pastime."
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The Warner Bros. super hero film “Shazam!” currently playing around the nation is based on a character whose origins begin with an Army veteran’s little-known struggle a century ago to adjust to life after World War I. The world’s mightiest mortal was introduced by Fawcett Publications as Captain Marvel, the alter ego of kid reporter Billy Batson, in a comic published from 1940 to 1953. But before the fictional captain, there was Captain Billy, a real-life former WWI soldier and newspaper reporter whose humor magazine for World War I veterans shocked 1920s America and launched a publishing empire spanning magazines, comics and paperbacks. Click here to read the entire story of Captain Billy and his publishing legacy with its roots in World War I.
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From the World War I Centennial News Podcast
Remembering Veterans: Senator Jon Tester on the Hello Girls Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019
WWI Remembered: Alan Axelrod on George Creel, America's Chief Propagandist - Part 2
Episode #119 Highlights: The Sinking of the USS San Diego
Host - Theo Mayer
100 Years Ago This Week - Host | @ 02:25
Germany receives the allied dictates - Mike Shuster | @ 10:55
The Polar Bear Expedition - James Carl Nelson | @ 14:45
War Memoirs from WWI: Charles Carrington - Dr. Edward Lengel | @ 22:10
May 2, 2019 Memorial at Cypress Hills Nat. Cemetery - Alain Dupuis | @ 27:55
The sinking of the USS San Diego - Dr. Alexis Catsambis | @ 32:30
Minnesotan Doughboys Remembered - Susi Adler | @ 41:25
New Education Newsletter - Host | @ 49:55
Highlights from the Dispatch - Host | @ 51:10
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The Weariness of the Thing - "The Boys Who Live in the Ground"
By Connie Ruzich
*Connie Ruizich from Behind Their Lines visits WWrite this week!
Of the American aviators who flew over enemy lines in the war, only fifteen percent were left after the signing of the armistice. Donald S. White, one of these few survivors, served as a pilot on the Western Front with the 20th Air Squadron.
He was cited for “exceptional devotion to duty” as a bombing aviator as “he had served in a day-bombing squadron in every raid since the squadron had been called into active work during the severe fighting in the Argonne.”
For this post, Connie Ruzich shares her rare discovery exclusively with WWrite: White’s poem about his service, a poem that seeks to speak “for thousands of his fellows.” Read “The Boys Who Live in the Ground” followed by Ruzich’s analysis this week!
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A man is only missing if he is forgotten.
Monday's Doughboy MIA this week is Corporal Vance Shankle, DSC. Born 03 November 1893 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He was a mill worker with the famous Cannon Company when America issued its first draft call. Rather than wait to be called though, Shankle enlisted in September, 1917. Interestingly, his local draft board continued to list him in the newspapers among those who had failed to report for their physical as late as February, 1918 and it took a visit from his brother, Brooks, to straighten it out!
Shankle was sent to Camp Jackson for induction and then on to Camp Sevier, where he was assigned to Company K, 118th Infantry, 30th Division and with them departed for overseas service on 11 May 1918 from New York.
In France, Shankle was quickly promoted to Corporal for his fearlessness in action over the summer months of battle, and on 17 October 1918 he made a permanent mark on the history of his regiment, earning the Distinguished Service Cross:
SHANKLE, Vance (deceased) No. 1312113 Corporal, Company K, 118th Infantry. For extraordinary heroism in action near St. Martin Riviere, France, October 17, 1918. When the advance of his company was held up, he volunteered to go forward with another soldier, to reduce a machine gun emplacement. Advancing in front of our lines, these two soldiers attacked the enemy position, destroyed it, and captured three prisoners. Corporal Shankle was killed in action shortly afterwards.
Corporal Shankle’s name is among the 333 names which grace the Tablets of the Missing at the beautiful Somme American Cemetery at Bony, France.
Want to help shed some light on Corporal Shankle’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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Function and style are combined in this lightweight and compact Canvas & Leather Tote. You can show your American pride while carrying this Made in the USA dark khaki tote. Plenty of room for keys, wallet, tablet and documents. A distressed “U.S.” imprint is prominently displayed on the bag and an exclusive fabric garment label commemorates the U.S. Centennial of World War One.
Tote features: Constructed of touch dyed canvas and lined with 400 denier nylon. Handles made of 6 Oz. top grain oil tanned leather, backed with 1” webbing. Handle is attached to bag with distinctive “X” tacks. Dimensions: 18.5” W (seam to seam) x 13.5”H x 5.0” T-bottom style gusset.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this item will help fund the national WW1 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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Submitted by: Frank Mastropietro {Nephew}
Antonio Mastropietro was born in1895 in Cercepiccola, Italy. Antonio Mastropietro served in World War 1 with the United States Marine Corps. The enlistment was in 1917 and the service was completed in 1918.
Story of Service
Antonio (Peters) Mastropietro was born in Cercepiccola, Campobasso, Molise, Italy on August 22, 1895, the eldest son of Pasquale Mastropietro and Carmela Antonelli. At a young age, he and his family came to the United States and took up residence at 36 Hulin Street in Mechanicville, NY. He attended School 3 on Saratoga Avenue.
While employed as a winder at the Strang Mill, he enlisted in the Marine Corp under the name Anthony Peters on July 7, 1917. He was shipped overseas and served as a rifleman with the 8th Co., 5th Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division.
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