The First World War

April is a uniquely historical month. There is a reason for this. Prior to the modern era, and before the age of automobiles, it was simply too hard to get around during the winter. Valley Forge is a good example. So are the disasters of Napoleon and Hitler, both of whom tried to go too far, too late in the year.

This is a photo of my paternal Grandfather, William Shone Williams. The photgraph was taken by a freind in boot camp prior to shipping overseas in the summer of 1918. He would make it just in time for the Second Battle of Verdun. He laid wire for communications behind enemy lines. He came home and became a Police Officer in New York City, though the War changed him forever. He died in 1946 at the age of 43.

Today marks the beginning of the First World War, at least for the United States. Hostilities had been raging since Archduke Ferdinand had been killed in August of 1914, plunging the rest of the World into War. We waited it out for a bit as the country debated what to do. Eventually we joined in and turned the tide.

This is my maternal Grandfather, Pincus Max Marcus. He was an early entrant into the War, having entered the United States in 1911 and then enlisting for service prior to 1917. From there he shipped off to England where he would join the Allenby Brigade and fight the Turkish Ottomans to victory in Damascus. This was a multi-national Pro-Zionist force. When the war was through, he had to fight his way back into the United States, entering through Canada.

I know this only through my Cousin Jana Marcus, and she only discovered it recently while researching some family history. "Max", as he was known, came home to make a fortune in the lingerie industry three times. And lose it each time on horses and women. He lived to be about 75 and drove a taxi until the day he took his own life. Was it the War or the loss of his fortunes that drove him to it? We'll never know.

Next to the Civil War, the First World War is one of the most savage wars ever raged. With the advent of new weapons the battlefields became killing fields and set the stage for World War Two and all that followed, leading even up until today.

It is interesting to note that the map of Europe prior to the First World War looks remarkably similar to a map of Europe today. With the fall of the Soviet Empire many of the countries that once existed returned to the world stage.

Sometimes a song says it best. In this case Country Joe and the Fish come to mind. What are we fighting for?