We Forget Today: Update–Argonne Farm, Bridgewater, NJ is for Sale. Own a First Division House–Sort of!

February 3, 2019 by Randy
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We forget today just what an impact World War One had on the lives of its participants and their families.  On 22 November 2014 the Webmaster talked about Argonne Farm in Bridgewater, NJ.  To view that full article, please click on this link:  https://meuse-argonne.com/?p=567. To paraphrase the story, the farm was purchased by Samuel Wishnowitz, a Polish-born immigrant who had fought in the 1st Division during WW1 and who never rose above the rank of private.  He and his father bought the property some time Continue reading →

We Forget Today: “The Chateau-Thierry Apartments” in Madison, NJ

April 19, 2018 by Randy
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  We forget today just what an impact WW1 had on the lives of its participants and their families.  Perhaps a better title to this post would be “History is where you find it.”  The Webmaster was sitting in a funeral mass for a friend’s mother yesterday, but the mention of her living in the “Chateau-Thierry Apartments” in Madison caught his attention.  Where were these apartments, and how, specifically, did they get the name?  Over the last 24 hours the Webmaster found partial answers to Continue reading →

We Forget Today: Spring 1918–Setting the Stage for American Military Action

March 31, 2018 by Randy
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We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.  Several recent events and internet posts have reminded the Webmaster of the very precarious position of the Allied powers in Spring 1918–and just how badly they needed an American Army.  (American allies might argue they needed the manpower, not an independent American Army.)     Journey’s End and the “Operation Michael” First of the German Spring Offensives The Webmaster recently attended the New York City Continue reading →

We Forget Today: The Story of Cpl. Goerge Gaudette, KIA 10 November, 1918

January 22, 2018 by Randy
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  We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.  Long-time Yankee Division reenactor and researcher Alan Michael Crane recently forwarded this group of photos centered around Corporal Goerge Gaudette, Co. E, 102nd Inf. Regt., 26th Division, who was KIA on 10 November 1918.  He was awarded the DSC posthumously.  The photos also show his mother receiving the DSC from YD General Clarence Edwards as well as his mother making a Gold Star Pilgrimage Continue reading →

We Forget Today: Hunterdon County WW1 Exhibit at the Red Mill Museum Village, Clinton, NJ

July 15, 2017 by Randy
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We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.  This is the opening line for the Webmaster’s “We Forget Today” blogposts.  But the staff at the Red Mill Museum Village in Clinton, NJ have not forgotten.  In fact, for a small museum with a small exhibition space they’ve put together a wonderfully thorough exhibit outlining Hunterdon County’s role in WW1.  Readers in the area are encouraged to visit it.     What made this Continue reading →

We Forget Today: April 6, 1917–America Joins the Allies

April 6, 2017 by Randy
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The Webmaster has been awaiting this day for the last few years.  Funny, now that it has arrived he has no brilliant speeches / no words to say; except for the line he uses to being a “We Forget Today” blog post:  “We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.”  It took months to mobilize and train Pershing’s Army and to ship it overseas, but the impact was already being felt across the U.S. and Continue reading →

We Forget Today: Private John J. Monson of the Lost Battalion

February 19, 2017 by Randy
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  We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.  Last Fall author Kevin Fitzpatrick sent the webmaster two blog posts from his upcoming book:  “World War I New York:  A Guide to the City’s Enduring Ties to the Great War.”  However, the webmaster has been delinquent in publishing them.  With the book set to release in late March, 2017, here is one of the two stories:   When the City Rallied for John J. Continue reading →

We Forget Today: Doughboy Day at Fort Jay, Governors Island, NYC, September, 2016

September 22, 2016 by Randy
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Reenactor and NYC tour guide Kevin Fitzpatrick worked with the World War I Centennial Committee for New York and various reenacting groups and historians to organize Doughboy Day at Fort Jay, Governors Island on September 17, 2016.  New Yorkers were reminded of that long-ago war through a combination of displays and speaking programs.  The day ended with a march to Meuse-Argonne Point, where the Webmaster had the opportunity to say a few words about the war, the doughboys and the Meuse-Argonne.  His text is published below: Continue reading → Continue reading →

We Forget Today: Paris, July 4, 1917, “Lafayette We are Here.”

July 1, 2016 by Randy
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  We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.  That is certainly true for war-weary France; when the first Doughboys arrived in their country.  Ninety-nine years ago, on the 4th of July, 1917, one of the most memorable phrases of American involvement in the Great War was coined.  It came during a speech at the end of a five-mile march by the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, AEF.  Bowing to French pressure Continue reading →

We Forget Today: Three Ways to Keep Memorial Day from Three Nations

May 28, 2016 by Randy
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  We forget today just what an impact World War I had on the lives of its participants and their families.  This blog post will focus on three ways to keep the holiday from the point of view of three different nationalities; but first, a bit of history on Decoration Day (to be later named Memorial Day) is in order.   HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868 1. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for Continue reading →