World War 1
The Great War! The war to end all wars!
Unfortunately, World War I didn't prevent another catastrophic European war as diplomatic
maneuverings at the close of the war and immediately following ensured that another war would follow!
The United States managed to remain out of direct military involvement until April 6, 1917 when the U. S.
declared war on Germany. American military forces began arriving in France on June 25, 1917 as part of
the American Expeditionary Forces
(AEF).
From 1914 -1918 some 4,734,991 Americans served in the Armed Forces.
Frank Buckles died Feb. 27, 2011 as the last remaining U. S. World War I Veteran.
(List of last surviving WWI
veterans by country.)
In the Portage County Draft Registration of June 5, 1917, 2,664 men enrolled. The second Draft call came on June 5, 1918 enrolling 263 men. The supplemental draft of Aug. 24, 1918, considered to be part of the 2nd Draft, enrolled 58 men. As of May 8, 1919, 60 men were listed by the Stevens Point Journal as dying in service. This total included deaths by enemy action, illness (Spanish Flu being the primary cause) and other means. (It should be noted that this list, May 8, 1919, may not contain a complete accounting.) Gold Star Mother List. (Note: when "pneu" is listed as cause of death, it probably was the Spanish Flu.)
The History of Portage County dated 1919 has a good section on World War I. Included here are biographies of General Edward F. McGlachlin and Vice Admiral Albert W. Grant. A detailed list of casualties is also provided. (Again, this list is not complete.)
Malcolm Rosholt's "Our County Our Story" has a history of the County's involvement in World War I also.
The plaque, at right, dedicated on July 6, 1923, can be considered the best list of Portage County deaths.
Photos
- Photos taken at the Imperial War Museum, London 2010, by Jerry Rohlinger. The AEF used British and French airplanes, mostly French artillery, and assorted other military items supplied by our Allies.
- A selection of World War I posters.
Military Biographies
- Clayton Slack -- Only Medal of Honor winner from Portage County.
- Andrew Lamphear -- this is a full biography, but needs to be included here.
Links
- President Woodrow Wilson's Library Online Papers.
- American Battlefield Commission
- WWI Memorial Site
- World War I photos
- First World War a collection of multimedia and other information.
- National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.
- British First World War Centenary by the Imperial War Museum.
More articles and/or collections will be added to this section.
