Texas WWI Centennial

Photo By Randy Mitchell | Clyde Balsley, center, stands next to his Nieuport 11 (nickname bébé). With his personal marking of a white star, it was camouflaged with standard brown and green upper surface and natural under surface. It was capable of flying 97 miles per hour. Armament was one fixed forward firing Lewis machine gun mounted in the top wing to fire over the propeller. (Photo courtesy of Fort Sam Houston Museum)  

FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES

04.06.2017

Story by Randy Mitchell 

U.S. Army North

April 6, 2017 marks the official start of the United States WWI Centennial period which will run through June 2019, covering the U.S. entry into the war to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

Fort Sam Houston has partnered with many other commemorative organizations to show Texans role during the war. The museum here will begin exhibiting historical objects and displays to commemorate the military’s role during the role beginning with a new display April 6, 2017, according to Jackie Davis, U.S. Army North museum director. The displays will switch out through the period to reflect different actions and roles the post took on during that period.

Texas and Fort Sam Houston were poised for war long before the April 6, 1917 declaration of war against Germany. The U.S. Army Southern Department (forerunner to U.S. Army North) had already responded to organized incursions into U.S. territory by Mexican revolutionaries and bandits with the Punitive Expedition. The Punitive Expedition (under the leadership of Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing) brought thousands of National Guard troops from all over the country to Texas in 1916 and served as a proving ground for military mobilization, training, and logistical support that would be used in 1917-18; resembling the mission U.S. Army north performs still today, according to Davis.

In Texas, volunteers have taken the challenge of organizing the Texas World War I Centennial Commemoration Association, an unincorporated nonprofit association with the goal of communicating, coordinating and commemorating the Great War in Texas. Over two years, the group has grown to over 600 people and hundreds of organizations and groups; including County Historical Commissions, museums, veterans groups, schools, universities, military organizations, and others.

By late 2015 they had also successfully lobbied the Governor’s office to establish a commemorative body. Governor Abbott appointed the Texas Historical Commission as the lead agency to spearhead the State’s activities. Too find the many other events, displays and activities to commemorate WWI you can visit the following sites:

• Texas World War I Centennial Commemoration Association web site at https://www.texasworldwar1centennial.org/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TEXAS.WWI.CENTENNIAL or Twitter at @WWI_TX.
• The Texas WWI Centennial Commemoration depends on teachers, students, historians, local officials, and interested citizens to give it meaning. They have a list of off-the-shelf activities at https://www.texasworldwar1centennial.org.
• The Texas Military Forces Museum website at http://texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org.

World War I introduced Texans to the world and the world to Texas. Contact the Texas World War I Centennial Commemoration at [e-mail] for more information on how to commemorate the WWI people and places that changed your community or organization. (U.S. Army North museum contributed to this article)

• Date Taken: 04.06.2017
• Date Posted: 04.07.2017 10:38
• Story ID: 229529
• Location: FORT SAM HOUSTON, TX, US