A Boy Scout troop in Richmond, Virginia, over a century old itself, lent its hands recently to acknowledge those whose help enabled the April 16, 2021 opening of the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC honoring the 4.7 million Americans who served their nation in uniform 100 years ago. As part of the activities after the recent Father & Son Hike, Troop 400 folded flags that were flown over the Memorial so that they could be placed into presentation cases for the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission World War I Memorial Donor and Patron Recognition Program. Click here to read more about the Scout troop ‘s timely assistance to help thank those who helped build the Memorial.

On May 28, 2021 Vocal Arts DC in collaboration with Avie Records released The Journey Home: Live from the Kennedy Center. Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI, the concert, which sold-out at the time, explores timeless themes of longing, loss, love, and the search for peace in the wake of catastrophe. Accompanying the album, the duo has released a film of the performance, which includes interviews with historians and military personnel, and explores the long overdue process of creating a national memorial to World War I in Washington, DC, including interviews with the United States WWI Centennial Commissioners. Click here to read more about these new releases, and find out where to listen and watch.

A piece of World War I history returned to Wichita Friday, May 28: an airplane that looks exactly like the plane Lt. Erwin Bleckley flew during his last mission during the First World War. The plan with the plane, once it’s restored, is to have it displayed at Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport, available for thousands to see and to learn a little about the plane’s history and why it’s important to Wichita. Lt. Erwin Bleckley died at the age of 23 on Oct. 6, 1918 on a mission to drop supplies from the sky. He later received the Medal of Honor for his bravery. Click here to read more about this aircraft, and why it is “a very big deal for the city of Wichita to bring this airplane home.”

The June 2021 American Legion Magazine digital edition looks at the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C. The extensive coverage  looks at the memorial’s commemorative elements, and how the WWI Memorial Virtual Explorer and WWI Memorial Visitor Guide apps help explore the site. Plus, John D. “Jack” Monahan, The American Legion’s representative on the U.S. World War One Commission, previews “A Soldier’s Journey,” the Sabin Howard sculpture to be installed in 2024. Click here to read more about the June American Legion Magazine’s coverage of the new National World War I Memorial

On the occasion of National Nurses Day on May 6, Ed Saunders wrote a thoughtful article about two Montana nurses who served their nation during World War I. Eula Bernice Butzerin (left) served in a Red Cross hospital in Kansas City, MO. Susie Lee Welborn joined the Army Nurse Corps, and served at Base Hospital 53 at Langres, France. But the two nurses shared more than their state and profession: both had to perform a sad duty after the fighting stopped. Click here to read more about the family tragedies that each Montana nurse suffered Over There in World War I.

Roberto Duran, a Captain in the United States Air Force, is currently flying for Air Force Special Operations Command. After Duran graduated from college and before he was commissioned, he auditioned for and was cast in Pershing’s Paths of Glory, a documentary film which features Pershing Rifles members, a Pershing Angel, and Blackjacks who travel and mark incidents in the life of General John J. Pershing, the great World War I Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces. Duran, a Pershing Rifleman from Texas and college graduate from Louisiana State University, was a serious, stabilizing force among the diverse group of high energy, military cadets still in secondary school. Click here to learn more about Duran, what he learned during the making of the movie, and how General Pershing inspired to to a career in the military.

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

Our Doughboy MIA this month is

Born 15MAR1886, in Hallsboro, North Carolina, Wesley Jackson Creech was the fourth of six children that Henry and Martha Creech would rear. He signed his 05JUN1917 draft card at Bolton, North Carolina, where he listed himself as a lumber inspector and two months later married Miss Francis Williamson, age 19.

Creech received his draft call shortly thereafter, reporting for duty on 01OCT1917 and was sent to Camp Jackson for induction. From there he went to Camp Sevier for infantry training and was placed in Company C, 120^th Infantry Regiment, 30^th ‘Old Hickory’ Division. Departing Boston, Massachusetts for overseas service on 12May1918 aboard the transport Bohemian, Creech’s division was brigaded with the British in the Somme sector that summer.

Records show Wesley Creech as being killed in action on 31AUG1918 and buried by a British unit, however later identification of his grave by American Graves Registration personnel proved fruitless. As such, he is memorialized on the Tablets to the Missing at the Flanders Field American Cemetery at Waregem, Belgium.

Want to help solve Pvt. Creech’s case? Consider making a donation to Doughboy MIA at www.usww1cc.org/mia. It takes only a moment and your tax deductible contribution can be as large as you want or as small as $10.00 on our ‘Ten for Them’ program. Your contribution helps us make a full accounting of all 4,425 US MIA’s from WW1 and keeps these lost men from being forgotten.  Make your tax deductible donation now, with our thanks. Remember:

A man is only missing if he is forgotten.

“Doughboy”
Window Decal

Featuring the iconic Doughboy silhouette flanked by barbed wire so prevalent during WWI, you can proudly display this poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by U.S. soldiers.

• Measures 3.5″ x 6″
• All weather screen design on vinyl

Proceeds from the sale of these items will help build the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, DC.

This and many other items are available as Official Merchandise of the Doughboy Foundation.

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