On Thursday, 15 February, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission publicly presented its updated plan for a Memorial to be integrated into Pershing Park in Washington, DC. The presentation included artist Sabin Howard's scale-model sculptural maquette for the new National World War I Memorial. The presentation was for the benefit of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), as part of scheduled regulatory reviews of the memorial's design concept by oversight agencies, which include the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). Reaction to the presentation was generally positive, with CFA Chair Earl Powell saying that  the project’s design “has come a long way.” Read more about the public briefing to the oversight agencies here.

Eighteen African American women served in the Army Nurse Corps stateside during World War I. These nurses all came from Freedmen's Hospital, now Howard University Hospital, in Washington DC, and were assigned to Camp Sherman, in Chillicothe, Ohio. Their full story is not well known, but their courage in overcoming the barriers to being able to serve still resonates today. Read more about how, despite the oppressive climate of that day, these women chose to serve their county during its hour of need.

The story of one African American World War I Nurse, Frances Reed Elliott Davis of North Carolina, is particularly poignant. The orphaned illegitimate daughter of a white woman and a half-Cherokee, half-black sharecropper, she faced and overcame enormous challenges to develop the characteristics that carried her through tougher times: perseverance, self-confidence, initiative, and hard work. She put herself through nurses’ training at the Freedmen’s School of Nursing, and was ready when World War I came. Read how Frances became the first officially registered African American nurse in the Red Cross, and went on to serve her nation in WWI and beyond.

They were known as the "Hello Girls" — American women fluent in French and English who answered the urgent call for telephone operators needed in France during World War I. They took oaths to join the U.S. Army Signal Corps, underwent training by AT&T before boarding ships to Europe, heading to war before most of the American Doughboys arrived in France, connected 26 million calls and ultimately proved to be a significant factor in winning the war. And then their service was largely forgotten. Now, Jim Theres, a Racine, WI native, is helping the nation remember. Theres'’ one-hour documentary “"The Hello Girls"” will premiere March 1 at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, 100 years after the first contingent of women sailed to France. Read more about the Hello Girls movie and their contribution to the U.S. war effort in WWI here.

The “An American and Nothing Else: The Great War and the Battle for National Belonging” exhibition opened on Feb. 12 in the Memorabilia Room at Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library. The show examines the America’s involvement in World War I from the perspective of the country’s most marginalized residents, particularly African Americans and immigrant communities. The exhibit explores the patriotic fervor surrounding the nation’s war mobilization which occurred against a backdrop of protest, racial violence, and nativism on the home front. About one-third of Americans at the time were immigrants or the children of immigrants. Jim Crow controlled the South and the Great Migration of southern blacks to northern cities was underway. It was a period of upheaval and hypocrisy in which the United States proclaimed itself a beacon of freedom and democracy while subjecting many of its own people to injustice and oppression. Read more about the “An American and Nothing Else" exhibition at Yale University here.

The most significant result of World War I: The world as it is now, the good and bad. A less noted consequence was closing hours for the bars in Butte, said Harry Fritz, a popular and award-winning history professor at the University of Montana, in a lecture last week at Great Falls College-Montana State University. "Many in Montana thought it (entering the war) was a mistake, and there are a number of historians who would second that, but my perspective is Germany was torpedoing American ships and killing Americans so what were we supposed to do?" Fritz said. Read more of this insightful and irreverent look at how WWI affected Montana and the other western states here.

The weekly 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, TuneIn  and smart speakers.

Episode #59

Wilson vs William:

Wilson vs William | @ 01:25

Stars and stripes launches | @ 07:30

War in the sky - AirMail | @ 08:50

America Emerges - 32nd Red Arrow Division - Dr. Edward Lengel | @ 10:45

Great War Project - German Homefront - Mike Shuster | @ 15:40

Commission News - Service Medals NOW | @ 20:15

Remembering Veterans - 371st Regiment - Sonya Grantham | @ 22:05

Speaking WWI - Doughboy Dictionary | @ 29:50

International Report - Brazil in WWI - Matheus Lacerda | @ 31:35

WW1 War Tech - Synthetic Rubber | @ 38:15

Articles & Posts - Freddie Stowers and Pyjamas | @ 39:55

Valentine’s Special - letters, stories and music | @ 42:25

The Buzz - Katherine Akey | @ 47:30

This week's post is "The Colored Man is No Slacker." 

In 1919, this slogan on a WWI-era poster inspired two young African American sisters from West Virginia to write and publish a book of poems whose sole intention, they wrote, was "to show the Negro’s loyalty to the stars and stripes in the war with Germany and to show the need of unity of all men in the fight for democracy." 

Don't miss this post about the exciting discovery of Ada and Ethel Peters' courageous literary work.

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Monday's MIA this week is Corporal Edward James Malone, ASN1706748, Company K/307th Infantry/77th Division. Corporal Malone was hit in the neck by machine gun fire on September 9th, 1918 during an advance in the Vesle sector and died in the arms of his best friend, Private Harold Cronin, a few minutes later. Malone was buried on the battlefield by his squad with a marked grave and identification was included with the remains, but when GRS went to find him following the war, they were unable to locate him. Doughboy MIA has recently opened a fresh investigation on Corporal Malone's case.

Can you spare just ten dollars? Give 'Ten For Them' 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.

U.S. Victory lapel pin $4.95

One of our constant favorite WWI commemorative items...

Returning Soldiers received Victory buttons upon their discharge from service in “the Great War”. Hand cast in jeweler’s alloy and hand finished in a satin bronze patina, the design features the star, symbolizing victory, honor and glory; a wreath of evergreen laurel leaves symbolizing triumph over death; and the U.S. insignia, clearly identifying the country served. The World War 1 U.S. Victory lapel pin is a meaningful way to honor and remember the contributions made for our country one hundred years ago. 

This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the United States World War One Centennial.

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