Today marks the 94th Anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War 1, with its Declaration of War on Germany. World War 1 was one of the deadliest conflicts in history.
This year it is even more important to remember it as the last American veteran of that war, Frank Buckles, passed away earlier this year.
Nearly ten million soldiers and sailors were killed in that war, along with millions of civilians. It was the first war with new technological wonders to be used – airplanes, zeppelins, modern battleships with big guns, tanks, submarine warfare, and various types of deadly chemicals including mustard gas and chlorine gas. War is hell, and this one was Hell with a capital “H”.
It was World War One where the Marines (particularly the 2/5) picked up their motto “Retreat, Hell!”, and we saw the first black American fighter pilot, Eugene Bullard, who flew for France during that war.
War is Hell. Never forget that, nor forget those who are called upon to fight our wars, and especially never forget those who gave their all for the cause of Liberty. And pray that we never see such a war as this again.
