Join the Doughboy Foundation this May and throughout the summer for a series of patriotic and musical events at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C., as we honor those who served and kick off a summer of remembrance. From the annual Flanders Memorial Commemorative Event on May 18, to the powerful Memorial Day Notes of Remembrance:  Taps Across the National Mall to the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. and a great Summer Concert Series...there's a lot going on!  Read all about what is happening over the next five months at the National World War I Memorial, and make plans to join us there for some (or all) of these big events.

H.E. Frédéric Bernard, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, Brigadier General Marco Madile, Belgian Defense Attaché and Paul Hegge, General Delegate of the Government of Flanders cordially invite you to attend the Annual In Flanders Fields Memorial at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, May 18^th, 2026. Read more about this annual honoring of the enduring ties and sacrifices shared between Belgium and the United States during the First World War, and RSVP to attend this wonderful event on May 18.

Belgian’s Minister of Defense H.E. Theo Francken and Belgian Ambassador H.E. Frédéric Bernard laid a wreath at the National WWI Memorial on Monday, April 27. They were accompanied by Belgian Defense Attaché Brigadier General Marco Madile and LTC Mark Goris. Minister Francken spoke about the importance of honoring and remembering the Americans, Belgians, and others who lost their lives defending freedom and democracy during WWI. He also talked about the gratitude the Belgian people continue to have for the American Doughboys. Learn more about this solemn event, and the unique WWI-era bugle used to sound "Last Post" for the ceremony.

Donna Ayres, the grandniece of Hello Girl Olive Shaw, chrolicles her own journey of discovery about her beloved "Auntie Nemo."  Knowing from childhood that her great aunt had served in World War I, Ayres was nontheless astonished by what her search revealed about one of "America's First Women Soldiers."  Read her story here, and find out how her current work with M-HARP is helping to contact more descendants of the Hello Girls and bring them into the fold of the organization. Notes Donna: "There are so many more stories yet to be found, and I am looking forward to continuing this amazing journey of discovery and connections!"

Eugene "Reynold" Thomas was born in 1898, in Pennsylvania, to George and Evelyn Thomas. In 1917, he would enlist in the war as a Marine, and see action. After the Armistice was signed, he was sent to occupy Germany with the rest of his detachment. During that time, he sent a series of letters to his family describing what it was like in Germany at the very end of the war and during the German occupation. (One of his stories about his Occupation experiences, "Seeing Tina Home," was previously published on the Doughboy Foundation website.)  In the  fourth and final new article recording his WWI experiences, here is Thomas's account of how he and his friend "Mac" had to react quickly when they discovered that  "A lieutenant of M.P.’s has broken into the billet with a soldier, found all the swag, and knows we’ve been feeding the Germans and fraternizing with them."

"This is a great RPPC (Real Photo Post Card) of Private Nicholas Anthony Schutz, Section 544, United States Army Ambulance Service, the first soldier of Kenosha, Wisconsin to be awarded the Croix de Guerre. He first received the decoration on June 9th, 1918 and was cited again in July, 1918."  Michael Santoro's explores more of the hidden history to be found in WWI artifacts. Read more about how Schutz, who volunteered and entered the Ambulance Corps on June 2nd, 1917. exhibited the "courage and sang-froid" to win two of France's highest awards.

Marvin W. Barrash learned about the USS Cyclops as a child in his grandparents’ shop in Baltimore, and has been researching the fate of the vessel since 1997, and is the author of three books on the USS Cyclops mystery. While doing all that research, he has come across other intriguing information about his family ties to World War I. Learn how "Growing up, I actually had two great-uncle Sams in my family," but  "It was only when I set out to research great uncle Sam’s younger brother, Lawrence, decades ago, that I discovered that Samuel Merkel had served in the United States Army during the Great War."

In a ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol, George Whitehair was recognized by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Governor Josh Shapiro for his work bringing renewed attention to the life and legacy of Dr. Frank Erdman Boston, a World War I veteran, physician, and pioneer whose impact continues to be felt nearly a century later. Whitehair’s recognition centered on his research, writing, and national outreach efforts to restore Dr. Boston’s place in American and military history. Read more about this recognition in Harrisburg, which reflects a growing awareness of Dr. Boston’s legacy.

America showed up late to the fight. By the time U.S. troops landed in France in 1917, they were hauling a strange mix of gear — some of it brand new, some of it already obsolete. World War I weapons were changing so fast during those years that no army, American or otherwise, could really keep up. But speed of invention creates its own problems. Designs that worked on paper fell apart in the mud of the Western Front. And the Doughboys caught in the middle had to figure out what actually helped them survive versus what just looked impressive on a spec sheet.  Learn more about how the American experience in WWI proved something that military planners still grapple with today: when you push an invention hard and fast, stuff breaks.

Catherine Bourgine began her Wreaths Across America project in 2025 at historic Fort Lincoln Cemetery in MD "inspired by the profound experience of placing a WAA wreath for the first time in December 2024 on the newly installed VA grave marker of my Hello Girls grandmother, Edmée LeRoux, a marker that had been dedicated just months earlier in May 2024."  As her campaign moves into its second year, she gives an update on her lessons learned from last year, this year's plans, and the progress to date. Read her entire report, and find out why she feels that "it’s never too early to honor a veteran with a Wreaths Across America wreath."

Two events in May will spotlight the "Maryland 400" for their serivce to the nation in and since the Revolutionary War, including exemplary service in WWI.  The first event, a Symposium on the Maryland 400 at the Battle of Brooklyn takes place on 23 May at the Maryland Veterans Museum, Newburg, MD. The second event is the dedication of a Unit Tribute to the Maryland 400 on 24 May at the National Museum of the US Army on Fort Belvoir, VA. Learn more about these two significant events honoring Marylanders who served the nation, and find out how you can attend either or both.

When fundraising is successful, the P-520, the last complete 85′ WWII & Korean War US Army/Air Force Patrol Boat (Crash Boat) still afloat, will visit Washington, DC this July 4^th to host several WWII and Korean War veterans in an Honor Cruise for the America 250 celebrations.  However, what most of those aboard the vessel may not realize is the deep World War I legacy that is represented by the P-520. Discover the amazing connection between WWI and these almost forgotten WWII vessels, and learn how you can help veterans enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime Honor Cruise on July 4^th.

In the spring of 1917, American university auditoriums were packed with talks on literature, law, and engineering. Only a few weeks after, Woodrow Wilson persuaded Congress to declare war on Germany. Thousands of students deserted their universities. They headed for training camps. The question “when did WWI start?” had little abstract significance for them in 1914, but rather a concrete dimension of personal choice in 1917. That is, when the United States entered the conflict. For a generation of young Americans, the university ceased to be an isolated space of intellectual freedom. It became part of the national mobilization. Learn more about how World War I became a turning point for student identity, the structure of higher education, and the role of universities in society in the United States. 

Gen. John J. Pershing requested development of a multipurpose heavy machine gun for the American Expeditionary Forces in WWI. We’re still using the result today. For over a century the M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun, known among troops affectionally as “Ma Deuce,” has been the staple small arms weapon in the United States military arsenal. Find out more about the WWI origins of the M2, and learn why, while certain enhancements have been made throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, the core of the gun has remained relatively unchanged. So much so that a Doughboy could likely pick up the modern-day M2 and operate it.

Writing for the Roads to the Great War website, Mike Hamlon digs into the story of Capt. Friedrich Wilhelm “Fred” Zinn, a Michigan native whose “Grand Tour” of Europe after college graduation was interrupted by the outbreak of WWI. One of 43 Americans who impulsively joined the French Foreign Legion in Paris the day that war was declared, Zinn went on to serve in the American army as well, and his WWI record is nothing short of remarkable. Read his whole story, and find out how Zinn, who was a pioneer in aerial photography, and was wounded twice, didn’t see his work as done when the war ended.

The United States sits in the middle of an interconnected global financial system, and American investors form a significant segment within the bedrock of global economy. The country’s share of outbound investment is quite staggering, with U.S. multinational enterprises holding a cumulative investment position of more than $6.8 trillion as of the end of 2024. This financial position provides the U.S. with an outsized influence on the global economy – an influence that can be leveraged to pursue strategic goals and address perceived threats. Find out how World War I was the start the U.S. restricting private foreign investment and using outbound controls as a key tool of economic statecraft with varied success to limit the capabilities and strategic options of adversaries.

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Our Doughboy MIA this month is Battalion Sergeant-Major George P. Storm. Born in September 1879, George Storm enlisted at Allentown, Pennsylvania on December 6, 1898, served through several enlistment periods and was a professional soldier. In August, 1917, he was assigned to the 16th Infantry and with them went to France. On 4 October, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne campaign, when his battalion had made an advance outside Exermont, Sergeant-Major Storm stayed behind to wrap up activities at the battalion’s old post of command. Once his duties were complete there, he set out through violent shellfire to the new PC position. However, shortly after setting out from the old PC, he was killed by shellfire. At the time of his death, he was just two months from retirement. Buried by the unit chaplain in a short stretch of trench near where he died, his grave had been well marked and noted at headquarters. However, when GRS searched for the grave location post war they were unable to locate it. Despite a second search, Sergeant-Major Storm remains missing to this day. Mr. Jay Perkins of the 1st Division Museum at Wheaton, Illinois brought the case to Doughboy MIA. Since then we have dug into the case extensively and believe that the recovery of Battalion-Sergeant Major Storm’s remains are entirely possible using today's technology.

Would you like to be involved with solving the case of Sergeant-Major George P. Storm, and all the other Americans still in MIA status from World War I? You can! Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to our non-profit organization today, and help us bring them home! Help us do the best job possible and give today, with our thanks.  Remember: A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Water Resistant Travel Fleece Blanket

The water-resistant backing on this 50” X 60” 100% polyester fleece travel blanket
makes it the perfect choice for all outdoor activities. An elastic band is attached to
secure the rolled-up blanket for easy portability. The black, water-resistant backing is complemented by the lead gray fleece reverse side that features the Doughboy Foundation’s embroidered WWI design. Machine washable.

Proceeds from the sale of these items will help keep watch over the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC.

This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the Doughboy Foundation.

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