by Rose Clark

November 3, 2015

In the 1910s the people who remembered the Civil War and its aftermath were in their 50s – 60s or older.  Knowing the huge costs of that war in terms of blood and treasure Americans were enjoying their rather peaceful life and looking askance at European disputes.  With large extended families living together many knew or knew of a grandfather or uncle who had been maimed or died in the Civil War.   “I do not want my son to end up like Uncle John with a wooden leg or worse” was a common thought among families talking at dinner tables across America.

 War broke out in 1914 as Germany invaded France.  Americans were not interested in involvement.  It was for Europeans to sort out on the other side of the world. As time went on war news from Europe dominated the American newspapers.  Slowly public debate began about involvement as the calendar on the kitchen wall turned to 1915. 

By this time there were nurses near the front lines caring for the wounded.  Florence Nightingale, nursing heroine of the Crimean War, had established nursing as a profession.  Many women were trained at St. Thomas College in London and other educational facilities.  The first Americans on the European battlefields of WW1 were professional nurses.  They joined their European counterparts in saving lives. 

The Lusitania

The headlines on May 8^th had a huge impact.  The story was a shock.  The Lusitania, the world’s largest passenger ship, traveling from American to Ireland was sunk by German torpedoes on May 7^th.  It went down in 18 minutes eleven miles off the coast of Ireland.  Eighteen minutes in which 1, 198 including 128 Americans went to a watery grave.  Only 761 people were rescued by horrified Irish.  As they read the news Americans were outraged at Germany. 

It had munitions aboard screamed German headlines.  Not so cried English shouted English and American newspapers.  It was a passenger ship as witnessed by the terrible loss of human life.  An investigation began.  To this day no investigation has ruled out the potential that there were some munitions, like shell casings, were in the hold of the ship.  Americans thought of Germany as a monster due to the huge loss of life that included many women, children and businessmen.  With not a soldier on board, the Lusitania should have been allowed to sail safely to Ireland according to American public opinion. 

The headlines in America were horrendous and distressed people from coast to coast.   

GERMANS USE FLAMETHROWERS AT FLANDERS!
MILLIONS OF SOLDIERS KILLED AT VERDUN!

GERMANS INTRODUCE MUSTARD GAS!
FLANDERS FIELDS RUNS RED WITH BLOOD!

And on and on it seemed each new headline was more horrific than the last.  This was the battlefield conditions that Americans debated entering.

America Enters The War

On April 2, 1917 America declared war on Germany and were instantly overtly readying troops and ships to go to the European theatre.  Slogans like “the war to end all wars” were common.  In June 1918 the American Expeditionary Forces were sent to Europe. 

Few American towns were left untouched.  Gold Star Flags appeared in towns large and small across America.  Americans were bleeding and dying and American families prayed and cried then prayed again. 

Peace at a terrible cost

On November 11, 1918 the guns fell silent as Germany surrendered.  The war was over.  The “war to end all wars” was over.  Out of the rubble would come world peace.  Heartbroken Americans were proud that Americans forces were the deciding factor in defeating the Germans. 

Heartbreaking statistics were compiled at the end of the war:

• Thirteen million men and women died on the battlefield. About 2.3 million died of disease.  Many of them were the nurses who had dedicated their lives to tending the wounded and the sick.
• More than one million French and German soldiers died at Verdun from February 21 to December 18th 1916 before American entered the war.  A like number was killed at Flanders Fields. 
• 60 – 70% Americans military forces were injured

The statistics from Washing State were heartbreaking:

• 877 soldiers from Washington State were killed
• 3,070 soldiers were wounded
• Of these numbers 355 of those killed were from King County and 52 were from Pierce County

Across the country Americans were shocked at the use of poisonous gases like chlorine gas and mustard gas.  People were horrified at the new weapon, flamethrowers.     Heroes came home with damaged lungs, coughing painfully, and needed care.   Burned bodies of living men required painful treatment and scarring was inevitable.  These heroes traveled on trains across the country to their homes. 

Across the country people vowed that no one would forget the horrors of modern warfare.  People determined that this would be the end of all war.  Future war would be more devastating it was sure. How to make people remember these men?  The question raged across the country.

Trees As Memorials

A movement began in Nebraska to plant living trees to beautify the highways as a monument to those who had died in this war.  Tree planted roads as living memorials sprang up across the country. Des Moines Memorial Drive was one of those living memorials.  Eventually over time other monuments were dedicated. Today Des Moines Memorial Drive, between South Park Bridge and the Des Moines Marina, is the only living road of remembrance left.  As the dying trees are replanted and other artistic elements are added  we remember the horrid deaths and injuries of brave men determined to fight for freedom and an end of war.