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Had I Been In Combat On The Last Day Of World War I


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2018 Nov 12, 4:47am   1,530 views  5 comments

by ohomen171   ➕follow (2)   💰tip   ignore  

#WorldWarIEveryone 100 years ago today, World War I ended at 11:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time. All the combatants knew the hour and the moment of the end of this awful conflict. Yet men kept dying up to the last moment.

Since I was in the US Navy now, I would have been in the US Navy then. i might have been chasing German U-Boats (half-heartedly) or rescuing survivors of a torpedoed British battleship (HMS Britania). The World War I would have ended peacefully for me. I would be thankful to be alive.

If I had been a soldier or US Marine, the last day of the war would have been terrifying. Many combatants would have been tempted to relax and "let the clock run out." If they did, they would have faced arrest with a firing squad or years in prison to follow.

I would have tried to look busy and aggressive firing my weapon and staying alert while being very careful to avoid any unnecessary injury.

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1   NDrLoR   2018 Nov 12, 9:07am  

ohomen171 says
World War I ended at 11:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time. All the combatants knew the hour and the moment of the end of this awful conflict. Yet men kept dying up to the last moment.
Except for that unfortunate contingent, mostly from Michigan, who were sent into the frozen hell hole of Archangel Russia and continued fighting and dying even into 1919 because the Armistice didn't include them. Several froze to death or simply got lost in the forests. It's such a shame, because they got so close to the wonderful 1920's, but then missed them.

I used to have my father's Selective Service classification card and he was 1-A, turned 19 on April 4, 1917, the day the US entered the war. However, his four year older brother was the one who went, served with distinction and returned and became a successful Ford dealer for 45 years.
2   Evan F.   2018 Nov 12, 10:03am  

ohomen171 says
Since I was in the US Navy now

Thank you for your service, but this phrase is making my head hurt lol
3   🎂 Tenpoundbass   2018 Nov 12, 1:10pm  

WWI Vets were as damaged with PTSD as our Modern Vets returning home from Wars.

WWII their Service was a topic of great pride for them. They had wonderful support during and after WWII.
They had best Military Hardware and it was forthcoming we had competent supply lines, abundant supplies, and well trained men.
They had a public that supported the war effort on every level. Rations, Bonds, Manufacturing, Canning all of which went to the troops.
Then when they came home they were met with the biggest Consumer, Builder economic Boom the world has ever seen.

WWI Vets were the Lost Generation though referenced the sheer numbers lost. This Generation today is like the Lost generation in a lot of ways. But lost in a different way, they are here but they aren't all there.
4   NDrLoR   2018 Nov 12, 3:15pm  

Tenpoundbass says
WWI Vets
At least got to experience the Roaring 20's.
5   Rin   2018 Nov 12, 8:06pm  

ohomen171 says
Many combatants would have been tempted to relax and "let the clock run out." If they did, they would have faced arrest with a firing squad or years in prison to follow.


This was entirely Pershing's boondoggle, where he let the officers below his rank, decide on what to do, prior to 11AM. Otherwise, Pershing was an outstanding general, unlike Britain's Haig, who was a complete dickhead, sending men on endless suicide runs, throughout WWI.

In effect, this was the 'career' officer's last attempt at promotion, prior to the end of a major war and a lot of them took the opportunity to send men to a futile death, knowing perfectly well that they could walk into those territories within a few days unarmed.

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