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America's Sailors in the Great War: Seas, Skies, and Submarines by Lisle A. Rose ISBN: 082622105X Published byUniversity of Missouri on November 29, 2016 Genres:Naval Pages: 344
Rose presents both the big picture of the U.S. Navy’s role in the war as well as anecdotes of the individual sailors. It’s expansion after the Spanish-American War left the Navy as America’s best-prepared force in 1917… building destroyers, sub chasers, and mine layers to counter the submarine threat… only three troop ships were lost and then on lightly escorted return trips while empty of their human cargoes. An excellent introduction.
Len's Summary: The story of a successful division, the 89th, drawn from the diary of its leader Major General William Wright, who was later promoted to Corps commander.
Len's Summary: Presents a cautionary tale of a typical inexperienced and under trained AEF division, the 35th Missouri-Kansas National Guard. // Analysis of the 35th Division collapse in the Meuse-Argonne that spotlights the steep learning curve faced by AEF commanders and soldiers in 1917 and 1918. Ferrell faults Major General Robert E. Traub, the divisional commander, for insensitivity to the tactical situation in fighting in the Argonne around Felville and Varennes, territory familiar to participants in recent WFA-USA tours. Divisional artillery commander Brigadier General Lucien D. Berry also comes in for criticism for failure to comprehend his guns role in infantry support. It was divisional engineer Colonel Thomas C. Clark who saved the day and prevented retreat from turning into rout. Other brigade, regimental, battalion commanders performed adequately; some preformed brilliantly before the Division was withdrawn from the line on September 30, 1918.
Len's Summary: Contains new material. Dr. Ferrell, who spoke at the April 2005 GWS seminar in Los Angeles, is a Professor-emeritus at the University of Indiana and the author of many books on WWI.
Len's Summary: An important new study of American-Russian relations during the Wilson administration with an introduction by my former boss, Larry Eagleburger. Trani is best known for his study of the Harding administration.
Len's Summary: Memoirs of a Doughboy in the 165th Infantry of the Rainbow Division edited by a professor emeritus of history at Old Miss who write a history of the 28th Division in the Great War.
Len's Summary: The memoir of a Mississippi Doughboy edited by the prolific author of America’s Deadliest Battle and editor of Meuse-Argonne Diary: The Divisional Commander in World War I.
Len's Summary: Essays on World War I, its horror, mismanagement by well meaning but inept leaders and a review of worthwhile literature on the conflict.
Len's Summary: A critical look at Pershing’s command by an AEF staff officer at Chaumont complimented by marginal comments by the editor, a distinguished historian of Woodrow Wilson and WWI.
Covid-19 has made life very interesting in 2020. The WW1HA normally participates in the National WW1 Museum and Memorial’s annual symposium in late October / early November, but it appears that event is not taking place in-person or on-line this year. Therefore, the Association pivoted by hosting its first ever Meet and Greet event via Zoom on 27 Sept. We had almost 40 participants share their interest in WW1.
The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter has started to host their monthly meetings via Zoom, and the WW1 Historical Association—Eastern Chapter has also been hosting various Zoom events.
At the time of this writing World War One Illustrated #13 has just gone to the printers and members should be receiving their copies shortly.
My first two-year term as President is almost at an end. We have been successful in getting our publications back on track and in improving the regularity of our social media posts on Facebook. We still have work to do updating our website. Patience please.
Our membership year runs from 11 November to 10 November. Please renew your membership now, if you are a current member. Please join us, if you are not yet a member. We remain fascinated with the study of WW1 because of its enormous impact on the 20th and 21st centuries, and because it has impacted many of our families.