Kansas WW1

Fifteen months ago an unmarked grave was found in the French community of Villers-sur-Fère. The incomplete skeletal remains couldn’t be identified but the grave also contained numerous artifacts which were clearly American. On June 7^th the remains will be re-buried with full honors in the Oise-Aisne American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) cemetery at Seringes-et-Nesles. Since this is the first unidentified American to be found in 35 years, the ABMC will live-stream the ceremony, which is scheduled to be headed up by the Army Chief of Staff, General James C. McConville. You can read more about this and learn how to watch the live-stream (which will start at 6:00 AM CDT) by clicking here. ...read more

We have previously covered the story of the Native American code talkers in WW1. Among these soldiers were the Chahta Okla (“Choctaw”) from the Oklahoma National Guard who served with distinction at The Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in 1918. They have recently been recognized in a special way. The 114^th Fighter Squadron, an Air Force National Guard (AFNG) unit based at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, OR, has dedicated one of their F-15C aircraft to the Choctaw code talkers. You can read about the nose art by clicking here. The 114^th Fighter Squadron is an ‘Air Education and Training Command’ unit which instructs both US and Canadian fighter pilots. Last week this squadron lost an F-15D in a crash landing. The pilot was uninjured. All of their F-15’s are slated to be replaced by the new F-15 EX in FY 2024, becoming the first AFNG unit to receive these types. ...read more