Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield Hosts WWI Weekend

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (03/06/2011)(readMedia)-- The Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield and surrounding grounds here were transformed March 5 and 6 into a battleground for local living history interpreters, a group of period actors who reenacted a series of battles and events that provided a visual sense of what it must have been like serving in the war to end all wars nearly a century ago.

In addition to the reenacting that took place outside, keynote speaker Chris McDonald, a political science professor at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, gave several lectures about the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Division in World War I (WWI), highlighting their accomplishments and a specific Soldiers extraordinary acts of heroism.

McDonald became interested in WWI after his father took him to see a reenactment at the age of 12.

"Many of the obstacles we face in the world today are rooted in WWI," said McDonald.

Even though there was a learning curve for the U.S. in WWI, what commands saw were incredible acts of bravery and heroism by men like those comprising the 33rd, said McDonald.

"The 33rd Division accomplished every task assigned to it," said Maj. Gen. George Bell, Jr. commander of the 33rd Division during WWI. "Not a single failure is recorded against it. Not a scandal occurred to mar the glory of its achievements.

The famous WWI battle Meuse Argonne was where the 33rd Division saw many of its Soldiers perform gallantly and one soldier in particular, Johannes Anderson, the first sergeant of Company B, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, perform an act of bravery that would earn him the Medal of Honor.

Anderson's company was being held up by heavy machine gun fire, when he, without aid, voluntarily left his comrades and alone worked his way around to the rear of the machine gun nest offering the most resistance.

His advance was made through an open area, under constant hostile fire. Anderson not only silenced the gun and captured it, but also captured 23 prisoners.

A display of Anderson's medals, including his Medal of Honor, his personal diaries, and various other personal effects were donated to the museum here by his surviving family are on display and served to highlight this event.

Often times WWI gets overshadowed and under mentioned compared to the other American wars this century, commented McDonald.

"I think it was a very complicated war that ended in a complicated way," McDonald said.

There are a number of reasons why it may not be as discussed, but having events like this one starts to peak interest and educate people on this very important period in this country's history.

Over 1.5 million individuals served from Illinois in WWI, comprising 6.59 percent of the total U.S. force. There were more than 4,000 casualties suffered from Illinois forces alone.

The 33rd Division endured 1,000 casualties and 5,871 wounded, and is also credited with nine Medals of Honor.

"The officers and men of the 33rd Division did their duty superbly. Their deeds and the example which they set are imperishable. Illinois may well be proud of her sons, both the living and the dead," said Bell.

Photos 1/2/3: Photo by Sgt. Charlie Helmholt, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment/ The Illinois State Military History Museum at Camp Lincoln in Springfield was turned into a battleground on March 5 and 6 for local living history interpreters reenacting World War I. The battles and events provided a visual sense of what it must have been like serving in the war nearly a century ago.

For video : http://www.dvidshub.net/units/139MPAD

For high resolution photos, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ngilstaffpao@ng.army.mil

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