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Basic Information about Captain Sumner
He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. October 1, 1882. His locations were Annapolis, Maryland; Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; Cuba; and France. He ended his career as a captain. -
Background of Allen Melancthon
He served from 1907-1918, and his branch was the Marine Corps. He was in the 81st company, sixth machine gun battalion, third infantry division, and American expeditionary forces. He was ordered to into the war. Captain Sumner was in the war of Verdun, Chateau Thierry, Belleau Wood, Second Battle of the Aisne, and Second Battle of the Marne -
How the War began
On June 28, 1914 Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Bosnia by a Serbian nationalist group called the "Black hand" that thought that Bosnia belonged to Serbia. The couple was killed almost by point blank, killing them almost instantly. This was the spark of the world war, afterwards it was a domino effect. Austria and Germany became allies against Russia, France, and Great Britain. -
Barbed Wire
Barbed wire was a very common weapon in the war, it was used to stop the other side from advancing into ‘no man’s land’. More than a 1093 yards was used on the Western Front, many men slowly died from being tangled up in it. The barbed wire was a very good strategy at the time. They used it mostly to keep out of range of grenades. -
Machine guns
The machine gun was pointless to go against, though there weren’t very many they were deadly. In order to keep them running it took three well trained men, as well as keeping an air based cooling system and water too so it wouldn’t jam or explode. At the time they were able to fire 500 rounds a minute. They were really heavy often around or more than 110 pounds. -
The War begins
On August 2,1914 Germany wrote to Belgium's government ordering that they cross freely for their troops. Therefore they could reach France quicker and go through Paris. Belgium denied them free passage way, at the same time Germany declared war on France. They went through Belgium anyways and because of that Great Britain got involved to defend them. -
Pistols
In World War 1 pistols and revolvers were given to mostly officers. If you were an enlisted you only got a pistol if you were required in specialist duties like, military police work, and in tank crews. They weren't often used because they were very heavy and had terrible accuracy. Pistols were only important when it was close combat in the trenches. -
The Rifle
The rifle was a very cheap produce, reliable, accurate, and easy to carry weapon. This weapon was very well known, every country that was fighting. It was used for long range shooting, even though it was mostly wasted on the Western Front. Most of a soldier's time was taken up by taking care of his rifle. -
Why the United States finally got involved
A German submarine sinks the Lusitania which killed 1,198 people and 128 were Americans. Since Britain was one of our allies and we had gotten attacked that required us to get involved. President Woodrow Wilson at the begging of the war took the favored position and declared they would stay neutral. Tension soon arose between the Unites States and Germany. -
Tanks
Tanks were very new at this time they’d suspected to breakdown and immobile. Though the makers for the tank learned very quickly and remodeled the tank. When the tanks were remodeled they didn't move any faster than a few meters a hour. There was a rumor saying that there was a 'mobile water tank's being made. -
The United States had authorization to get into the war
The US Senate voted 82 to 6 to get into the war and fight against Germany. They spent $250 million dollars to prepare the war, mean time Germany sunk four American merchant ships. Few months later on June 26, the first 14,000 troops landed in France for training. Once we got into the Western front lines victory soon came to the allies. -
Captain Sumner's Schedule
9:15 a.m. quarters and slips drills,
10:00 a.m. infantry drill full pack,
11:05 a.m. French class,
12:00 noon dinner,
1:00 p.m. officers’ school,
2:00 p.m. signal drill,
3:00 p.m. infantry drill full pack,
4:00 p.m. non-comms school,
5:30 p.m. officers’ school,
6:00 p.m. supper,
7:15-8:15 p.m. study hour for officers,
Also rooms were inspected at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. -
Letters to his wife
From what I could read he was telling his wife and daughter that they don’t need to worry. Just right now that she needs to take care of the house and their daughter. He was explaining how to his wife that he's not in the front but he wishes she could get him a warm vest. Captain Sumner said he couldn't say specific's because of security. -
Death of Captain Sumner
Captain Sumner’s death didn’t have very many details but it said he was killed early into the fight. It was said to be a bullet but no other details than that. He was trying to wait for a signal for them to move forward but they were attacked. Sumner was shot in the stomach and was immediately unconscious and soon died after. -
The war ends
On November 11, 1918 the war ends. At five in the morning that day Germany agreed to sign the armistice agreement. World War 1 was known as the "war to end all wars" because of how terrible it was. That was before World War 2 happened.
