So were going to hear from Patrick Odonnell and learn the story of those eight bears. Patrick odonnell is a critically acclaimed military historian and an expert expert on elite units. He is the author of 11 books and he is the recipient of several national awards. He served as a combat historian in a marine rifle platoon during the battle of fallujah speaks often on espionage counter operations and counter insurgency. Foras provided consulting the awardwinning series band of brothers and just to read you a couple of snippets of reviews on this, his newest book, Exhaustive Research with fluid, mr. Odonnell relates the history of the unknown soldier their part in world war i through the soldiers experience. And from usa today a gripping story from one of the best and most gripping stories. Few authors have the same kind of enthusiasm that odonnell brings to this topic. Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome Patrick Odonnell to the stage. It is really quite an honor to be introduce
What your job is. Thank you, my job is assistant director for a culture at the Smithsonian National museum of the American Indian. I lead the scholars, historians, curators at the museum who are in charge of producing the exhibitions, the books, a lot of the Educational Programs and symposiums, and work with a collection of about 824,000 objects. But i have a real interest in photography, we also have over 500,000 photographs in the National Museums of american Archive Center. So i have been working very hard, i in the year ive been at the museum. Ive a 30 year career at the smithsonian, but i only joined this museum last year. And these photographs of the archives. The. It has become more and more familiar with it over time, so when i was asked to think about the opportunity to consider what photographs we have online for the public to see and for students to study online, it was a great opportunity, because i was able to review and get really deep into all of the collections of photo
5000 an insult. Years in 1920, one single unknown soldier was chosen to represent all of those who had died without being identified. The soldier of world war i was lead to rest with a solemn ceremony intended at the our Motion Picture holdings documents the progress of that soldiers remains from france to the United States, in the newly built him of the unintelligent. As the ceremonies at the u. S. Capital where the unknown leg general stood as the soldiers father to fill the role of the socialist nearest relative. Along the way from france to the nearest resting place eight men selected by the general accompanied the body of the unknown. So we are going to hear from Patrick Odonnell, and learn the story of the eight bearers, and their heroism on the battlefield. Patrick odonnell is a bestselling, critically acclaimed military historian, and a expert on elite you. Nets hes the author of 11 bucks, including washington immortals, world war i, and he saw recipient of several national awa
Theres the heavy guns. This is a forgotten aspect of world war ii. There were real guns in france and heavy artillery. One of the body bearers is represented there. The field artillery, the forgotten branch, in many ways. These are men that were with, in most cases artillery pieces that moved up with the infantry. In some cases, they were in combat with the infantry. As they moved up and provided close artillery support, thats the infantry advanced, this is the story that is in the unknowns. General pershing is trying to be comprehensive in the way that he told the story of world war i through the eyes of these men. Then, of course, the extraordinary story of the tomb itself and how the unknown was selected. And i follow a chicagoan. A dough boy through the entire war. Younger was part of the second infantry division. An elite unit within the American Expedition theary forc and younger is there. Hes a dough boy. A regular grunt. A sergeant that fights from battle to battle. Hes wounded
Also the actions of individuals. A number testified to the great sacrifice, death and combat. The National Cemetery in arlington, virginia is the resting place of more than 400,000 people, including nearly 5,000 unknown soldiers. In 1921, a single unknown soldier was chosen to represent all of those who have died without being identified. The soldier of world war 1 was laid to rest with so many lemm ceremony attended by those of the highest ranks. On Film Documents the progress of that soldiers remains from france to the United States. And the newly built tomb of the unknown soldier. As the ceremonies at the u. S. Capitol where the unknown lay, general pershing stood to fill the role of the nearest relative. Along the way, eight men personally selected by general pershing accompanied the body of the unknown. So well hear from Patrick Odonnell and learn the story of those eight bearers and their hair rheroism on the battlefiel. He is an expert on elite units. Author of 11 books includin