100 years ago, the war Waldo saw

‘It is so bright & warm, not a breath of wind & a cloudless sky. The [solar] eclipse was weird & it became very dark for a few moments. Everyone out in the street with bits of smoked glass. The light was strange & metallic like lighting on the stage.‘

                                                                “Unwavering patriots”

‘I am a citizen; this is my country. I was born here, and shall at all times be found with the flag.’

‘Remembering the multitude of the Croix de Guerre and citations on the breasts of the returning African American soldiers, smiling, not discouraged, and still carrying on for the flag, the country where they were born and where the bones of their fathers are buried.’

                                                                    Cousins

“I have always hoped and expected that the Marines would do their share and when the French say that we fight like our ‘Canadian Cousins’ it is praise of the highest sort. In other words a Marine is ace-high around here!”

                                                         ‘It is a hot pipping day in Paree’

‘Paris is now in the midst of a heat wave and we all sweltering – Even to move your little finger is enough to make your very toes hot!’

Allen Peck’s WW1 Letters Home 1917-1919 – Paris Sees it Through: A Diary. 1914-1919 – War Letters, 1917-1919

The day before Memorial Day of this year, (1918), Marshal Petain wrote General Pershing, “I have invited French troops stationed near American cemeteries to go and salute their brothers-in-arms fallen for the safety of their Land and the Liberty of the world. Later, when you have left Europe, rest assured that the same rites will be rendered them and with the same fervor. The remembrance of these valorous men will endure in our hearts.”

It did and still does. See here, Memorial Day 2018 celebrated in Chaumont, France.

Source: A Machine Gunner’s Notes – Photo: WW1, Memorial Day French soldiers, ladies & children paying tribute to the fallen American soldiers. Ministere de la Culture, France.

It did and still does, in 2026

                                                         WE WANT OUR MUMIE [sic]

                                 ‘We were mothers, sisters and friends to thousands of men’

‘Over the canteen in France, the woman became a trusted guardian of that home back in America. To her were revealed joys and sorrows. Because of that loneliness, that loss of background, the soldier poured out to the canteen worker his dearest memories and dreams.

And the Y woman would leave her post behind the canteen for a little and wander from table to table for a word, or she would drink a cup of chocolate with a little group while they talked of farming, opening a store or returning to college after the war.

It was so little and yet it was so much in that everyday life of war—war so terrible—so long.’

1919, Addie Hunton, African American lady, volunteer YMCA worker in France, assigned to work with the 200,000 segregated black troops stationed in France – ‘Two Colored Women with the American Expeditionary Forces’ – Photo: WW1, Addie Hunton and a soldier in France

Note: here, a group photo showing Addie Hunton (the center of the back row) with her team & American soldiers, at the YMCA in Chambery, a leave area in France during WW1.

                            “I was most proud of the Canadian patch I wore on my shoulder.”

Canadian Ambulance Driver, Grace MacPherson, never let the sight of horrific wounds or the sound of anguished cries drag her down. If a patient called out in pain from the back of the ambulance, she responded: “You cut that out! Nobody’s riding in my ambulance moaning like that!” She refused to risk emotional involvement with her passengers. And yet she promised: “You’re going to get the best ride you ever had in your life.”

                                            I wanted to send you an olive tree for the New Year,

                                                           But no matter how hard I tried,

                                                                     It would not grow.

“We surely have a fine time here, the Red Cross has a Christmas tree very nicely decorated and gave all of us a sock containing, nuts, cigarettes, tobacco, candy, figs, an orange, and even a mate to the sock!”

                                                  We were all thankful for what we had

“Just listen here……today at the grand celebration our commander received a telegram. He read it and then read it to the crowd. He read that our division would prepare immediately to proceed to a port of embarkation preparatory to sailing for America! We’ve been very happy ever since. Of course several days will be required for us to get rid of surplus property, clean our area and many other little things. So if orders don’t change (as usual), by the time this reaches you we probably will be nearly ready to start. So you see, we all have much to be thankful for today.

Was at a Thanksgiving meeting when the “leaving news” was given out. In my little town (Belleville) we had a very nice service at 9:30 a.m. Then went to the big town Pont-à-Mousson where most of our troops are located. Several of our bands for music and field exercises were the features of the day. No turkey, cranberry sauce or cake but we were all thankful for what we had.’

Tanksgiving 1918, Meuse sector, France, African American soldier’s letter to his wife – WW1 Letters, Actual letters written during WW1 – Photo: WW1 American soldiers’ field exercices — By African American veteran, Victor Daly

“November 11 1918 – It’s all over, we are no longer at war. What joy – the champagne flows. There’s a smile on everyone’s lips, no more fighting, we’ll be able to move without fearing a bullet, a shell, a rocket, or gas – the war is over!”

“November 10 1918 – 10 P.M. LA PAIX EST SIGNEE!!

They’re playing the Marseillaise now. God be praised for His goodness. All the sky is lighted up with Verey lights and gun flashes. All the Frenchmen are shouting and shooting and we’re so plain dammed happy we don’t know where we are. All the section is out. 

LA Guerre Est FINIE!”

‘We were making war against autocracy to make the world safe for democracy. In this war – I am proud to say that the Indian has exemplified the American spirit; that spirit of America which cannot be measured in miles or dollars, the spirit born of free American soil, air, and sun, every tree, hill and stream proclaims and sings it.’