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 awards. He served as a combat historian, and a marine rifle platoon and speaks often on espionage special operations to counter insurgency. Hes provided struggle consultancy for remarks, and for documentaries produced by bbc, history, channel and fox news, and discovery. Just to read you a couple of snippets of reviews on his newest book, from the wall street journal. The Exhaustive Research and fluid pros, mr. Odonnell believed the history of the an in soldier and the story of americas part in world war i to the soldiers experience. And from usa today, a gripping story formula of donald, one of the best soldiers of his generation. Few others had the same kind of enthusiasm and gusto that odonnell brings to this topic. Ladies and gentlemen, please help me in welcoming Patrick Odonnell to the stage. [applause] it is really quite an honor to be introduced by the archivist of the United States. I spent over two decades here at the National Archives, researching 11 bucks from the American Revolution all the way to the unknowns, right here in this building several of the stories about the navy buddy variables were drawn from the research here at the National Archives. I am really just honored by all individuals that are here today, that came to support the unknowns. Especially many of the former two mudguards, i would like to recognize paul, former surgeon of the guards, as well as if you could please stand. These are some of americas finest. Thank you so much for your service. Also tim francs of the amc, and the Oasis Society in atlanta. Here my family, my mom and dad, i really appreciate your support over the years. I have written 11, books and all of the books have been me in one way or another. When i mean by that, its not a cliche, the story finds me. If its washingtons immortals, we are, walking i was walking with the metallic midair i was with influenza, and we found a russian old sign that said there are continental heroes were buried in a mass grave in brooklyn somewhere. And i want to know the back story of that story. It is history in plain sight. The engines is no different. I was given the opportunity to be a guide in france, for the fifth roomy marines and leader the wounded war regiment. As we walked, the hollowed grant a bell of wood which happened exactly hundred years to this day in Second Division, helped save paris. They stopped the german drive. We look around the news, and there is very little talked about the little battle of below would. And that generation of its the reason why i wrote the unknowns. Its a unknown generation. Its the forgotten generation that change the world. We are Walking Around the shell of belleauwood the land is scarred by world war i, and i was joined by some of the brothers that i was with influenza. And it is quite striking. The two generations had met. In one place. And it was a situation where the nearly killed all of us. The former ottoman empire, that, iraq was strictly a result of that. It was that meeting of generations that made me wonder, and then i found out, that earnest he jensen eat a epic charge a Police Notice helmet 42. As we walk up, there this is the high ground near belleauwood, its crucial. The marines on june 26th, 19, 18 charged across the wheat field. Under heavy machine again fire, as they charged in civil war formation because they were ordered to buy the french. It was a bloodbath. Any of these men dropped from the machine gun bullets, they kept. Charging the kept making their way towards hill 142. And unbelievably, they were able to take a position that was helped by a battalion of germans. When the seat the hill. And against odds, the seized the hill. But within 20 minutes that they knew was coming. Next a german counterattack. Jensen, and george hamilton, the 49th company, this is a band of brothers in the book, and also the story of the unknown soldier, braced for the counterattack. Jensen saw in the distance, nearly a dozen style home camouflage helmets making their way up to the position. Setting up several maxim machine guns on heavy slits. He knew if he was able to set those up there would be able to sleep in and take. It let out a blood curdling cry and trudged forward to stop the, attack the drum attack and stop the terror attack and potentially save the. Hill first awardwinning for the marine corps and he was also the body count. When i found that i i want to know who the other men were. He was at that point the unknowns found me and i spent years uncovering their story, which is a untold story. It is a untold story within multiple untold stories. Theyre hidden in plain sight. The two mid south has a incredible history. But its history in plain. Site its the back story behind the two, who are the people who were selected to bring back the remains, how the unknown was elected. All of these stories are moving into a single story. A narrative history that is so cinematic, it brings you to world war i, through the eyes of the men, most decorated enlisted men in the world, who saw some of the toughest action. Nearly every major battle. But the general when he selected his eat by, bearers selected individuals from the armory, navy, and green quartz. And then within that he selected individuals from the common specializations of combat engineers for instance. These are guys that built things. They blew things up, and in the case of Thomas Saunders whos in the, book and native american, given some of the most difficult assignment in the war, had to breach a wire with only a pair of wire federal. And breach the, why are making it whole allowing the rest of the infantry to go through. You have the calgary. Its hard to believe, but there are a man of troops and france, and one of our Great Stories of body bearers, harry, taylor who was practically born in the saddle. A cowboy that was raised in wyoming. And taylor fought with the first cavalry at the beginning of his career was involved in numerous conflicts and then found himself in france, training men in 21st division, while blessed, vision makes a epic charge, suicide charge that in the news are gone, one of americas bloodiest battles. There is also the infantry. Samuel. One of americas most decorated police. Theres the heavy guns. This is the forgotten aspect of world war i. There were real guns in france. And heavy artillery. One of the butter bears is represented there. The field artillery. I forgotten print in many ways. These are men that were in most cases french 75 are two 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 as infantry advanced this is america went from an army of about 220,000 regulars, to an army of over 4 million strong at the end of the war, it is a extraordinary story of growth, in a time of great need, and we mobilized. But one part of the story is a forgotten story. That is the story of the navy in world war i. America navy in world war i. In 1917, and much 1917, president wilson had a real threat on his hands. Germany votes were sinking american ships and i alarming rate. Even before entering world war i there was a decision made to bring people guards onward merchant ships, to armed them with typically five inch guns, and give the merchant ship a crew of about navy personnel. This were not as a navy guards. One of them would change the it tough man from massachusetts, his body was inked with the ships that he served on. He had been serving since 18. His life was the navy. He was given command of evil gun crew on the uss, isis companion merchant ship. Their journey in 1917, in the summer of 1917 was actually going pretty well. Until, midsummer, they were making their way back to the United States, and all of a sudden, a torpedo nearly hit the ship. It was then quickly followed by artillery fire. The men man the guns and then began to respond. The ship was crude by a expert, keep him in his name was, lieutenant captain hickman who had sunk nearly 40 naval ships from the allies at this point. Now his prey was the uss companion. The lady went into action with his, crews they made their guns in the started to fire. But the captain of the boat was quite knowledgeable on the various. What ensued was a cat and mouse chase for hours, both sides fired their guns at each other as the companion try to flee the battle space. Eventually, the boats rounds were able to hit the side of the companion. One near the engine compartment, his man were firing so many brands that theyre eardrums began to believe. But they reenact of ammunition, and several of the ships he decides to strike his killers and surrender his vessel. The boat moves in closely, they go right by the actual row boats that they are in, nearly wiped them out as they go so closely. Then they have a boarding party that goes aboard the companion, they set several charges. But before they do, that they read the food locker. Life on board was very harsh. They only had canned goods or whatever they could bring aboard once the journey began. The journey was also dirty and filthy. The engines on board the u boat 61 let off a lot of. Grease inside the boat there was something called boat sweat, literally constant station would be on the boat and it would get on the mens clothes, it would get in their clothes, their body, everything. The first thing they did when they got on board the campana was they look for so, the gossip they try to clean themselves off, and they also look for anything of intelligence value, and they detonated the ship and sink. It at that point, the men, including james, were brought on board. Six of the men brought on board u both 61. The man is a remarkable figure. He speaks english, he begins to question james, and heres a meeting of two men, they both become, i wouldnt say that there is a friendship forms, but theres a Mutual Respect that is formed including respect with the clues. His crew and his men enter with the men in the u winter. If youve ever seen that movie dost boat, its a World War Two version of a u boat undersea. This is a world war to both of what james goes through. They are depth charged. They have the insurance known as a q boat. A merchant ship that the allies have thats disguised as a worship. Its designed, as soon as the u ship surfaces to reveal hitting guns and attack the u boat. They go through a minefield and its just a extraordinary story. I wont tell the entire story. I will tell that at the end of the voyage, both crews lined up for a photo. And what james telling didnt know, and with the other americans that day was that u both crew were all walking dead men. Because in a matter of this or months they would never be seen. Again these are the powerful stories inside the unknowns, that took me hears to on earth, including, here some of the street were found here in the National Archives, as i enter. Thumb another incredible story is the story of the 49th company of the marine corps. The next to me is not the 49th company. It is actually two five. Second battalion, fifth marines. But their story really begins at belleauwood which happened exactly hundred years ago today. I mentioned the charge this was a world war i dday that no one has heard about practically lsu or the marine corps, or you were eight world war i buff. This is where the marine corps advanced across several fields under heavy machine, began fire. But we have an before that was extraordinary. The end of may, early, june the germans had launched a major offensive geared at rome, at paris, and they were breaking through the frontlines. Literally the french army was melting. The archives talk about how it was like water. It was just evaporating. The french army was evaporating. Then from the 49th company and two, five the marines in the fifth and sixth regiment, as well as the Second Division were all being trucked as quickly as possible, along with the Third Division of the u. S. Army, into the vortex of battle to hold the line at all costs. These were some of the only reserve units at the time, and they were in many cases super divisions. These divisions were about twice the size of a french division. And sometimes even more, much larger than a german division. There were quickly rushed to the front and when they were in their canyons they saw from civilians passing them by, as well as members of the french army in some ways going down there have been saying the worst over. The pushed over to the front. And it was here that Lloyd Williams, from two five, then set up behind parts of the french army, near belleauwood, and the decision was made by colonel Kristen Brown the chief of staff of the Second Division. The french immediately commit the front door and the army, piecemeal, basically the rest of them to the line. He insisted that they be able to dig in behind the french, and shallow fox holes and, wait prepare, this potentially helped save the war, this decision. Because the marines and army were ready, as the germans advanced across the wheat fields, the french were fleeing. According to the marine corps, as well as other documents, Lloyd Williams 25 was confronted with the dilemma and said, retreat help, they just got here, they dug in, and they began to fire with their rivals. Accurate rifle fire. Was to marines for lunch men. They were able to take down the germans as the advance across the. Week they stopped, them and then on june 6th, delays cohen attack. The french order them to push forward, and its company, 14th company which i follow through the entire war is advancing towards the wheat field. The first, objective hill 140. To the season hell against all odds. I mean many of these men are killed as they cross the wheat field. They take the hill, jensen survives, is badly wounded, but. Survives is able to disrupt the attack. The mint fight. Finance Company Fights through the entire war. And they are in the major, major battles that divided. About a month after belleauwood, it takes about three weeks to clear belleauwood, what happens is a newspaper reporter the Chicago Tribune is with the marines in the field, as they advance on the sixth. He shot through the eye. But before he goes, he writes his report. And the sensors, its absolutely forbidden to provide any kind of unit designation of who is in the field, but the sensors believe that floyd givens is killed on the field. He shouted eyes. Badly waited. They dont know but hes actually alive, they believe hes dead. So they go lets let floyds report go through which identifies the marine in court. All of canada paper show that the marine corps hopes of france in paris. Of course is the army as well. But a creek to sensation. It goes viral. What happens is belleauwood, instead of just a local attack, takes on nations ignorance. The german sea the papers, and they rushed their best units into belleauwood, to try to crush the marine. Court over the course of three weeks theres a lot of fighting and casualties. But ultimately, the marine corps and the army prevail at belleauwood. The 49th Company Continues to advance. And they fight at a place called force on, a turning point in world war i when the allies go on the counterattack. Counter offensive. Theyre able to turn the tide a battle, there the germans, the war is changing, the changing nature of the. Were the 49th fight throw another battle at sandal, where the americans go on a true offensive to take down and assailant, several of the body bearers are involved in the scene battle. And one of my favorite stories and this book is a forgotten battle that the marine corps fought in and its one of their bloodiest battles. In some cases, more buddy than june six. It was caught. Ridge where the french army insisted that they would take the Second Division, to somehow sees a impregnable fortress. Here, in blanc mauve, its called that because the face of the mountain is white. It was rained with hundreds of machine guns, artillery, for over three half years the french army tried to take on this impenetrable fortress. Nothing worked. Everybody is literally all over the place. There is an attack just days, ago the french army failed to take it. They called in the Second Division, as well as the 49th company in the marine corps. One five is what they were a part of. To solve this position. Here was also another member of this book. Edward, the chicagoan. And all of these body bearers, a lot of them converge on malt block. The field, engineers the, infantry theres stories all converge as they attack the seemingly impregnable decision. To have to go across the mall of open ground. The bodies of the french are littering the area. They literally go by. One of the positions were in a, row its all dead frenchman. At the tip of the philly is a freshman with. Appeared a large frenchman in a beard that has his eyes wide open to his pointed at the germans in her. They passed them and they continue to attack. And it is a remarkable story. The seas mount blanc on the first day, and they go over the bridge the next day, and they continue to fight in the position known as the box. It was at natural killed so that the ge