World War I (1914-1918): Year of Remembrance

Supafly

Retired Mod
Bronze Member
I am a German, and the generation of my great-grandparents up to even my parents where still a part of the German Reich. My parents were in the Hitler Youth / the Bund Deutscher Mädel, and did not contribute a lot. Well, the burden, even the nazi spirit is something that will take some more generations to fully go away. It is highly addictive, and, if engrained in childrens minds or in a situation as in Nazi Germany, where it is all around, it is hard to resist.

This morning, I started watching a documentary about the men who paved the way to Omaha Beach that day, the men who would be the founding fathers of the Navy SEALS of later times. It gives me chills when one retired SEAL said:

"They knew the men who went before them did not come back, and they said: I will still go."

And they knew that in France, they would have no ID except the US sign on the helmets. So they even had to hide from fellow troups. I find this highly inspiring, and am very ngrateful that they made that sacrifice.

Here is the video:


They helped to stop something that just HAD to be stopped, for the good of millions and in memory of millions butchered away for a warped, evil ideology
 

Ace Boobtoucher

Founder and Captain of the Douchepatrol
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I'm in Kansas City for my niece's wedding and we had some free time today. So we went to the National World War One Memorial and Museum. And I got a new favorite t-shirt.
 

maildude

Postal Paranoiac
The Passing Bells is a pretty good show about the war.
 

Ace Boobtoucher

Founder and Captain of the Douchepatrol
Happy Veteran's Day. Since it was originally Armistice Day I think it more appropriate to add to this thread rather than start a new thread and add to the clutter. I spent the day in Boulder City at the Nevada State Veteran's Home. Governor Sandoval was there and there was supposed to be a contingent from the US Congress but only Whorehouse Harry's Aide showed up. Anyway, I took the dog and several old timers spoiled her and I took a few pics.

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GodsEmbryo

Closed Account

Theopolis Q. Hossenffer

I am in America, not of it.

GodsEmbryo

Closed Account
WWI soldiers’ remains unearthed after more than a century

Workers digging a trench for a new gas pipeline in Langemark in West Flanders have unearthed the remains of 19 soldiers that were killed almost 101 years ago in the First World War. The nationality of 12 of the soldiers has been identified. 10 are British and 2 are German.

link with video: http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/videozone_ENG/1.2629980
 
We all know about the internment of Japanese in North America during WWII, and some of us might know about the 442nd, a Regiment of Japanese-Americans that became the most decorated US Military unit in History. And although Japan was an ally of the US/Canada in WWI, you probably haven't heard of any Japanese immigrants fighting for them in WWI. Until now:


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At a time when our society was less inclusive, almost 200 Japanese-Canadian men overcame many barriers and served overseas during the First World War. Some 54 are known to have lost their lives in the conflict and more than 90 were wounded.

One of these determined men was Masumi Mitsui. He had tried unsuccessfully to enlist in his home province of British Columbia before being allowed to join the Canadian Army in Calgary, Alberta, in 1916. He served on the Western Front with the 10th Battalion, eventually rising to the rank of sergeant. He fought in France in the Battle of Vimy Ridge and was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery during an attack on Hill 70 on August 16, 1917, when he grabbed a machine gun and drove the enemy back after all the men of his platoon were wounded.

On his return to British Columbia after the war, he led efforts that eventually saw the provincial government grant the right to vote to Asian-Canadian Veterans in 1931.

What is sad that even after getting the right to vote and being decorated with military honours, it all meant nothing after Dec 7, 1941. He had all his property, including his farm confiscated and his entire family, even those naturally born in Canada were sent to internment camps. Canada might think it's more "immigrant friendly" than the US, but the US was one that allowed those of Japanese Ancestry to fight for their forces. If Sgt Mitsui was allowed to fight in WWII, there would have been a Canadian 442nd story as well.

In any case, I thought even serious WWI buffs might not know about this great man. I'd be curious if there were Japanese-Americans who also fought in WWI; I'm sure there were, but again, their stories are hard to find.

https://www.thestar.com/news/walkin..._war_hero_to_enemy_alien_and_back_again_.html
http://www.activealumni.ualberta.ca...etoCanadaatAsianHeritageMonthCelebration.aspx
 
I think a big reason WWI doesn't get as much attention is because it is underrepresented in pop culture. WWII got a big boost from Call of Duty (& other FPS & RTS games). So in that vein, I give you:

Battlefield 1 just got announced and it will be a WWI game!! It's been a while since we've seen a non-modern warfare game, and I think this is the first WWI game for current gen consoles. How cool is this? Maybe we'll see a resurgence of interest in WWI?

I will bet that many didn't know that Japan was on the Allied side in WWI.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_during_World_War_I
It was a unique war in that no side was really portrayed as the "bad" side... unlike every other war since then.
It will be interesting if the game explores this by having campaigns on both sides, something the PC police wouldn't let you do with WWII.
 
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