The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – October 1917

Sunday Oct 28th   Dear Folks:- The box containing the sweater and the candy came this morning.  Thank you for sending the sweater.  Thank Will for the candy, it sure tastes fine and I appreciate his thinking of me. There hasn’t been anything particularly new here this week.  We have

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – September 1917

Fort Sill, Sept. 23rd Dear Folks:- Well the suit case arrived yesterday noon and everything was O.K.  Thank you for all the trouble you took in packing it, also for the chocolate papers, etc. The cookies also came and were very welcome.  We all enjoyed them.  Thank you and come

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A War by Invention by Kevin Hampton

Commonly referred to at the time as the “War to End All Wars,” World War I was in fact not a “last” but a “first.” Innovations in technology, tactics, and equipment ushered in a new era of warfare that defined how wars were fought for the next one hundred years.

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – August 1917

Co. C. 41st Infantry, Fort Snelling, Minn., Aug. 2, 1917. Dear Folks:- Received your letters and yesterday afternoon received by parcel post a bundle of Saturday Evening Posts from April 7th to July 28th inclusive. They were all labeled B.K. Mills and had a Western Malleables tag so I judged

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – July 1917

July 3, 1917.   Dear Folks:- Well tomorrow is a holiday and I think we will all appreciate it.  Some of the men are going to march in the parade at Highland Park but I didn’t volunteer so I am not going. If this letter gets home before my laundry

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The La Crosse Light Guard Flag

When the Civil War began and President Lincoln called for volunteers in April 1861, Wisconsin’s volunteer militia companies answered the call. Among the first to offer their services to Wisconsin’s Governor Alexander Randall, the La Crosse Light Guard marched into Madison under a beautiful white silk flag made for them

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – June 1917

June 3rd [1917] Dear Folks:- Another week gone by. Soon it will be time to split up into the different branches and have to work harder than ever. Before I forget it, I want to broach a subject which may make you very angry, and if it does let me

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The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence – May 1917

May 15, 1917 Dear Folks- Reached here this A.M. and went right to work. We are almost settled now, in the new barracks. Please send me some Bath Towels and some face towels – old ones preferably and when you send my laundry – don’t send any pajamas. Address me-

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Like Angels in the Sky: A Combat Medic’s Story

  As I stepped off the plane into the dark Kuwaiti desert a wave of hot moist air hit me. I was in the Middle East, all of those months of endless training had led me to this. For the next three weeks we sat in Kuwait and tried to

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Mexican Expedition

By Russ Horton, Reference Archivist. One hundred years ago today, President Woodrow Wilson ordered the mobilization of the Wisconsin National Guard for military service. However, he did not send them to Europe, where a World War raged. Instead, he sent them to Texas to protect our border. While their service

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