For three years prior to the nation's entry into World War I, the United States shipped approximately one million American horses and mules to Europe, to assist the war effort as they worked for the British and French armies. These animals carried men into battle, and wounded men to safety. They carried food, water, medical supplies, ammunition, gun carriages and other supplies to the front lines across difficult terrain, in brutal weather, often surrounded by dead and dying men and animals. For peace-loving animals, the sights, sounds, and smells were as dreadful as they were for the men.

The story of these animals is one of courage, and also of tragedy. Brooke USA,  a Commemorative Partner to the WW1CC, is charity dedicated to improving the welfare of horses, donkeys and mules in the developing world. They have a special project to honor and remember the story of these horses, and this week their new section on our website, honoring the Horse Heroes, goes live. We discussed Horse Heroes, and the efforts by Brooke USA, with Jo Ellen Hayden, Brooke USA's Horse Heroes Special Project Volunteer.

A bracelet that had belonged to an Irishwoman serving with the US Army Nurse Corps in France in World War I has been returned to her relatives in Bray, Co Wicklow. Found fifteen years ago by an eight-year-old boy in a schoolyard in Rimaucourt in northeastern France, the bracelet prompted a teacher to begin a long, and ultimately successful search for the descendants of Josephine Heffernan, which led from France to the United States and then to Ireland. Click here to read more about the quest, which has spawned a documentary film in France.

The animated movie, SGT Stubby: An American Hero, is a WW1CC Commemorative Partner, and will come to theaters nationwide on 13 April 2018. The film is based on the remarkable true story of the 26th "Yankee" Division's legendary mascot, SGT Stubby, a stray dog who became a hero of World War I. The film features the voices of actors Helena Bonham Carter, Gerald Depardieu, and Logan Lerman, among others. Sgt. Stubby's new teaser trailer arrived this week in select theaters across North America.  We talked about SGT Stubby with the film's writer/producer, Richard Lanni.

Prevented from hiring the shipbuilders he needed to build U.S. Navy warships because of the severe war-driven housing shortage in the Norfolk, VA region, the Newport News Shipbuilding Chief Homer L. Ferguson began looking for solutions even before America entered World War I in April, 1917. Not until he dressed down a Senate subcommittee in early 1918 did Washington grasp the depth of the housing crisis, leading in hours to the funds for historic Hilton Village. Designed and built for workers, 100 years later it has been cited by planners and architectural historians as a landmark achievement. Read more about Hilton Village here.

On Nov. 30, 1917, Cpl. Harold T. Andrews of Portland became the first Mainer in the American Expeditionary Forces to die in combat in World War I. This son of a prominent Portland educator died when his engineering unit was called into combat to fight a German offensive on the Cambrai front in France. Writing on the Portland Press Herald newspaper web site, scholar Donald Zillman notes that "the study of the American experience in World War I reminds us of is how the issues of 1917 still resonate a century later." Read Zillman's entire thoughtful article here.

Major League baseball in America went to war in WWI with the rest of the nation. By spring 1918, 76 Major Leaguers were in the military, 48 from the American League and 28 from the National League (there were only 16 Major League teams then). There were 120 players in the military by July 1918. Jim Leeke’s book “From the Dugouts to the Trenches: Baseball During the Great War” tells the story of two seasons 100 years ago when professional baseball players, executives and sportswriters enlisted, waited for the draft to catch up to them or went to work in steel mills or shipyards. Step up to the plate and read more about Leeke’s book here.

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, and TuneIn.

He is an ace, has lion cubs as pets, can't walk backwards and is obviously way cool. Who is this? Listen to the show and find out.

Episode #49
Highlights:

The African American saga in WW1 @ | 01:30

11th Engineers Cambrai follow up @ | 08:55

Brits capture Jerusalem from Turks - Mike Shuster @ | 09:40

Millionaire’s Unit & Lafayette Escadrille documentary film producer - Darroch Greer @ | 13:55

AmazonSmile for the holidays @ | 21:35

Speaking WW1- Foxhole, Dugout and Cubbyhole @ | 22:35

100C/100M profile - Carmel By The Sea memorial arch - Ian Martin @ | 23:25

The American in Paris documentary - Antony Easton @ | 30:05

Mexican born, illegal immigrant most decorated Texan soldier in WW1 @ | 38:15

WWrite Blog - German songwriter/soldier found from rediscovering his music @ | 39:05

The Buzz - Katherine Akey  @ | 40:20

The Balfour Declaration sparks the latest post on the WWrite blog, which explores WWI’s Influence on contemporary writing and scholarship. Enjoy and subscribe!!

This week:

What if there had been no Balfour Declaration? What would the alternative history look like? These are questions that writer, Simone Zelitch, author of the novel,Judenstaat,explores  in this week's WWrite blog. Don't miss this fascinating glimpse at a new past...

World War One Custom Silk Tie: $59.95

This is a great gift idea for the WWI buff or buddy in your life. And you deserve one too!

This 100% woven silk tie has been custom created for the World War One Centennial Commission.  This red silk tie features World War One era aircraft and the official logo of the Centennial Commission on the back.  This beautiful tie also comes packaged in a 2 piece box with the Doughboy seal printed on the top.

Suit up for your next WWI event... It's like a British School tie - it is a keepsake and badge of membership for years to come!

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