In just a few short days we all will be celebrating Memorial Day. The very best way to honor a war veteran is to listen carefully to their stories. These are tales that should never be forgotten.
Though the holiday seems to be most celebrated in America; Memorial Day is not just an American holiday. In the overall picture of all the world wars; Americans are only a small portion of those who are to be honored.
So many other countries have fought along beside us in the world wars. Actually; Americans have TRIED to remain neutral in a world that will not allow such a thing to happen for very long; especially within a country where people value freedom and human rights.
For most Americans; Memorial Day is a time for honoring every veteran who ever fought for our goals and ideals in any of the many, many wars throughout the pages of history.
It is a time for remembering their bravery and courage. We never want to take these brave people for granted. Our lives today have been made possible because of their valent efforts on our behalf.
The service and dedication of those who risked their lives for the happiness and well-being of all good people is deeply appreciated by those of us who have and still value our freedom.
Such valor is always to be commended; hence we celebrate Memorial Day with this in mind.
HOW HAS A VETERAN TOUCHED YOUR LIFE?
Memorial Day is a day for asking ourselves questions.
How many people do we all know personally who have been brave enough to give such a commitment of service for their country and its causes? What have we done to show our gratitude?
Also; what do we all really know of these wars that they so bravely fought?
Have we heard their stories enough to understand the beat of their hearts?
The facts are sometimes hard to digest. There are so many of them that I’ve found it is easier to break things down a bit.
LET’S BEGIN TO REMEMBER ONE WAR AT A TIME
Today I want to explore some of the facts around only one of these many wars that were courageously fought. This war is probably the least known by most of today’s generations. With the arrival of this Memorial Day I’m thinking specifically (in this article) about the historical facts surrounding World War I.
I’m wondering what life must have been like for those soldiers of what we so often refer to as “The Great War.”
REMEMBERING THE GREAT WAR
It all began on July 28, 1914 and ended on November 11, 1918.
For nearly four long years hundreds of actions and engagements took place.
Have you ever considered how unnerving it must have been for the whole wide world to be at war at one time?
Looking back, we can all certainly be grateful that the world had not yet reached it’s current state of technology. If that had been the case; the many events of what we now call The Great War might have been completely different.
HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?
Perhaps your first question is the same as mine; how did it all start in the first place?
What one significant thing could have grown into a spark that would have grown into a flame which eventually turned into a huge world-wide fire?
That answer took a whole lot of time and energy to research; and it is actually very complicated to explain. There is no way to include all the facts in just one article.
The simple answer to the question is that one country questioned the credibility of another country and that argument spun into a huge world event with one country at a time getting involved. Each different party had their own separate reasons for coming to the table.
Two questions arose from the ashes of the past. Why did the first crisis lead to a war between Austria and Serbia; and why did that conflict soon involve the rest of the so –called “great powers?”
AN ARCHDUKE IS ASSASSINATED
For those innocent by-standers looking on as the world lived through each day and continued to turn on its axis; the most obvious beginning was the assassination of Austria-Hungary’s Archduke Franz and his wife.
Archduke Franz was heir to the Austria-Hungarian throne. This murder was believed to have been plotted by a Serbian National Secret Society group called “The Black Hand.”
AN ULTIMATUM IS ISSUED
Soon after this assassination took place Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia demanding that the assassins of the Archduke be brought to justice. Then the Austria-Hungarians were very unsatisfied with Serbia’s lack of response to their ultimatum.
A very angry Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914.
This simple explanation of the war, however; is a very incomplete and misleading explanation. So much political upheaval was going on between the two countries of Austria-Hungary and Serbia and these political things made the war’s beginnings even more complex. There were actually many more factors other than the assassination to consider.
It all boiled down to the facts that Austria-Hungary and Serbia were very unhappy with each other. Their goals and ideals were completely different. They each felt threatened by the existence of the other.
The hatred for each other was so great that two countries were the first to engage in war.
HATE IS OFTEN CONTAGIOUS
Their animosity toward each other prevailed and spilled over to other countries that were common allies.
For instance; Serbia had Slavic ties with Russia. This complicated the matter even more.
Austria-Hungary was not expecting Russia to be drawn into the dispute; but just to cover their backs in case it DID happen, Austria-Hungary asked their ally; Germany, for aid should Russia declare war on Austria-Hungary too.
Germany agreed to back Austria-Hungary and encouraged them to stand firm in their cause. It took Russia about six weeks to mobilize their large army in Serbia’s defense. When Germany saw this happen they took it as an act of war against Austria-Hungary.
On August 1st, without a bit of warning Germany declared war on Russia.
Now four countries were involved in war.
It became Austria-Hungary and Germany vs. Serbia and Russia; but not for long.
France was bound by treaty to Russia and found itself at war against Germany. Germany was swift to invade the neutral state of Belgium so that they could reach Paris by the shortest possible route. Britain already had a 75 year-old treaty with Belgium which obligated them to defend Belgium. To reinforce that more; Britain was also an ally to France.
Britain declared war against Germany on August 4th. When Germany invaded Belgium, Britain came to Belgium’s defense. Britain also had colonies and dominions across the seas who offered their assistance. These included Australia Canada, India, New Zealand and The Union of South Africa.
So now it was pretty much the rest of the world against Austria-Hungary and Germany.
Then another amazing thing happened. In 1914 Japan also declared war on Germany because they needed to honor a military agreement with Britain. When this happened Austria-Hungary responded by declaring war on Japan. It seems that the whole world had teamed up against Austria-Hungary and Germany.
THE USA AND ITALY TRIED TO REMAIN NEUTRAL
Back in the USA; Woodrow Wilson had been elected President. He declared that the United States would remain neutral in these wars. Wilson actually managed to keep his word until 1917. It happened that during that year Germany’s unrestricted submarine warfare began to seriously threaten America’s commercial shipping industry. This issue gave The United States good reason to enter the war. They did so on April 6, 1917.
Like The United States; Italy was able to avoid the war for a while. They were committed to defending Austria-Hungry only in the event of a “defensive war.” On May of 1915 Italy took a hard stand and sided against their former allies.
In one strange event after another the whole wide world became teamed up against Austria-Hungary and Germany.
These final players of this war could have never been logically predicted.
What had begun as a defense against an assassination of a national leader ended up as a war of the world with each country being involved for different and individual reasons.
THE REALITY OF 1914
The war that had began very simply escalated and led to a very complicated ending.
Not one country entered the fight with the intentions of creating a world war; but this did become reality in 1914.
So whom among all the honored players of this war can we remember and give Memorial Day tributes?
SOME FAVORITE UNLIKELY HEROES
What men should we honor and why?
There is no question that each and every man who served deserves the highest of honors. The one’s we point out today are simply some who are noted among the many.
What were their roles that specifically make them known as war heroes?
How will we honor these men without first knowing more of who they are and what they stood for?
I’m very sure that so much of their history has been totally forgotten by now. It is my intent to bring some of the stories back to life in this article and within the memories of the people who continue to observe this day. I have hopes to take the heroes of each world war, one by one; year by year; until all the stories that we know of each can be told. That would take a very long time and a lot of intensive research.
Let’s start by only looking at the World War I heroes.
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE HEROES OF WORLD WAR I
If one wants to truly understand the suffering experienced by those who were consumed by World War I; one must visit the battlefields where they fought from 1914 through 1918.
We must first get a mental picture of The Great War.
Perhaps we should spend some time walking through the old battlefields and imagining how the battles fought there played out.
When this tragic world war ended the people did not ever want to forget. Many people DID walk through the battlefields again and note for themselves how the last moments of their loved ones were spent.
Tours for families who had lost loved-ones began even before the weapons were cleaned from the battle areas. Some who were remembering went on into France and Belgium and crossed The English Channel to spend hours driving on the opposite side of the road in order to gather all the facts they could of their loved one’s war experiences.
WE SHOULD REMEMBER TOO
Today you and I should feel compelled to do the same.
It has become too fashionable and trendy to destroy the evidences and memorials of history. Wouldn’t that, after all, be building the future on lies?
Just because you don’t like the truth of a situation doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
No; we would be so much better off to remember all the little details of history so that we can learn how to live better from our past mistakes.
Ignoring history doesn’t make it untrue; it only dishonors those deserving of memory.
We should go (at least in thought and imagination) to Ypres, Iper and Albert (Somme) where we can grasp a better understanding of this war.
Once we arrive there; we might even hear the battle themes that were used at the time. We might learn what “a flying pig” is, and who the “battle police” are. Also; we will come to understand that the word “tour” to a man in service meant the period of time they spent on the front-lines.
Of course our imaginations cannot even come close to realizing the horror of the statistics. We will have trouble understanding the fact that Russia mobilized 12 million men, and France mobilized 8.4 million. Britain mobilized 8.9 million and Germany mobilized 11 million. Austria-Hungary mobilized 7.8 million, Italy 5.6 million and the USA 4.3 million.
UNBELIEVABLE NUMBERS
This tells me that the World War I portion of just the American Memorial Day Holiday honors 4.3 million men specific to World War I alone.
Just think what the total numbers for all wars fought by Americans must be!
Then add up the numbers of men who fought for our causes from other countries and multiply it out by all of those wars that were fought.
The numbers are mind-boggling.
How sad that it had to happen; and how amazing that so many men loved their freedom enough to give their lives for it.
So many died from so many tragic and harsh battles.
WHERE WERE THE WORLD WAR I BATTLES FOUGHT?
The World War I battles took place on The Western Front, The Eastern Front and The Gallipoli Front as well as The Italian Front, The Palestine Front, and The Mesopotamian Front. Other battlefronts were at The African Wars, The Wars at Sea, The Far East Wars and so many other different battle fields where men fought in various places all over the world.
With all of this vast amount of information; my original quest was simply to note some of the American World War I heroes which we will be honoring and remembering on this coming Memorial Day. By noting the few; we honor the many.
ALVIN CULLUM YORK
My favorite example of an American Hero is a man named Alvin Cullum York; better known today as Sergeant York.
YOUTH
He was born in 1887 and grew up in poverty. In his youth he honed his skills as a crack marksman. That talent was originally necessary for hunting for food for his family and himself. It later became a very useful skill that served him well during the war. York was noted during World War I for his bravery and his win-at-all-costs attitude.
A PACIFIST AT HEART
Strangely enough, and marksman that he was; York originally proclaimed himself to be a pacifist. In 1911 he served as a lay deacon in a local pacifist group. His draft papers are so noted. Yet; he was drafted into the 328th Regiment, 82nd Infantry.
During his training he was convinced by his commander that the Bible sanctioned active service.
FIGHTING GERMANS IN FRANCE
While fighting in France York found himself in an attack in the Argonne Forest against some German troops with machine guns.
On October 8, 1918 while serving as a Corporal, York led 17 men against a German stronghold in order to secure their position and return with German soldiers.
York’s small group took a number of prisoners without even firing a shot. Then the German’s launched an all-out attack against them.
York put 11 of his men guarding the prisoners. The other six of his men who went with him were killed. Before he was charged by seven German soldiers who realized he was operating alone; York took out 17 German gunmen. With the aid of a German Major he had captured; York brought back 132 German prisoners.
REWARDS
Upon arrival at home York was well rewarded. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor as well as the French Croix de Guerre and a Fulsome Citation from Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch.
New York City honored his return with a parade; and he was awarded a gift of a farm by Tennessee (his home state.)
In 1940 a film was made about York’s life and the movie was called “Sergeant York.” Gary Cooper had the honor of playing the part.
When York was paid the fee for the film; he used it to fund a Bible college. He died in 1964; most beloved by all around him.
PAUL FRANK BAER
Most of us know something of Sergeant York; but have you ever heard of a soldier named Paul Frank Baer?
He served the United States and the French Air Services during World War I.
NINE AIR VICTORIES
Paul Baer achieved nine air successes between March 1918 and the time of the Armistice. Nine air victories qualified a man to be labeled an “ace” during World War I.
After becoming an “ace” he was shot down and survived the crash. He was taken prisoner by the enemy until the end of the war.
PRISONER TO HERO
At the end of the war Baer returned home to Fort Wayne, Indiana on February 28, 1919 to a wonderful local welcome. Then Baer took up a post as a test pilot for an aeronautical lab based in Detroit.
He was also an inspector for The Department of Commerce. Then he moved to South America where he helped to establish an air-mail service.
AWARDS
Paul Baer was the recipient of The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Cruix de Guerre with Palms.
He received the last award mentioned because he single-handedly attacked seven German aircraft and destroyed one of them. Five days later he downed two enemy two-seaters.
On December 9, 1930 Baer was killed in Hong Kong when his aircraft crashed while flying mail and passengers for Chinese Airway Federal Inc. He was only 35 years old.
GEORGE MICHAEL COHAN
Another amazing man who fought in World War I was George Michael Cohan.
Born in Providence, Rhode Island on the 4th of July, George Michael Cohan went on after his service in the war to become a central figure in American musicals and theatrical circles during the first half of the twentieth century.
THE MUSIC OF WW1
He was famous for numerous accomplishments; but I wanted to share the music that he created during his time of service in World War I. Cohan penned the leading American marching song of the war called “Over There.”
After it was introduced to the troops, Cohan was formally recognized for the role that this song played in boosting the wartime morale with the award of The Congressional Medal of Honor. (He didn’t receive this honor until much later in 1940.) The song remains very popular to this present day.
OTHER COMPOSITIONS
Other renown songs by Mr. Cohan are: “Yankee Doodle Boy,” “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” “Give My Regards To Broadway” and “Harrigan.”
Once back home in the 1930’s Cohan worked in movie productions and was featured in The Phantom President (1932.)
Cohan died from cancer on November 5, 1942 at the age of 64.
SIR HIRAM MAXIM
The versatility of these American Heroes is amazing. We noted one for bravery and marksmanship, and one for bravery and aviation, and one for musical contributions while serving. The next man we are noting; Sir Hiram Maxim, was a noted inventor.
A NOTED INVENTOR
He designed the machine gun which bears his name.
Mr. Maxim was from Maine and his father was a mechanic. When he was 26 years old Maxim applied for and obtained the first of many patents for a hair-curling iron. This was followed by a patent for a machine gun that produced illuminating gas and that was followed for a patent for a locomotive head lamp.
CHIEF ENGINEER
Soon The United States Electric Lighting Company recognized the talents of this young inventor and employed him as their Chief Engineer. He designed a method of producing carbon filaments for them.
In 1884 Maxim was living in London when he began to toy with the problems associated with the design and manufacture of automatic weapons. From this came his most famous invention; The Maxim Machine Gun.
INVENTED MAXIM MACHINE GUN
In 1891 he invented a smokeless cartridge, cordite, which further improved the effectiveness of his machine gun.
He successfully sold his weapon to the British Army, although there were also other armies expressing an interest in buying his machine guns; including Germany.
In the 1890’s Maxim invented an airplane powered by a light steam engine.
DUBBED A KNIGHT BY QUEEN VICTORIA
Since he had previously invented hundreds of useful items from mousetraps to gas motors; Queen Victoria actually dubbed him into knighthood.
His company called The Maxim Gun Company was later absorbed into Vicker’s Ltd., of which he became the director.
The Vicker’s machine gun became the standard issue weapon in the British army during World War I.
Sir Hiram Maxim died in London on November 24, 1916 while the Great War was still raging. He was 76 years old.
SO MANY VALIANT MEN
Those are the four stories I have noted of some of the World War I heroes we will remember today. There are so many other stories of the men who fought for our freedom; not just in World War I; but in all of the wars before and since.
Many of these men lived after their service to tell their stories; but the casualties of wars were all so great.
Let us not forget to honor each of them as we think of our freedom made possible by ALL of our war heroes everywhere, especially those who will forever remain quiet and unknown to many of us.
Countless men gave their lives willingly and none of their stories have yet been told.
Let this not be so on Memorial Day of this year.
If you have any stories in your family that have been passed on from war heroes; take the time to tell them to your children and your grandchildren. Remember to write them down for history.
Please remember to pass on their stories.
We must never forget them and we must always honor their great sacrifices.