Charles "Chuck" Jacobs R.I.P.

Charles "Chuck" Jacobs  passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2017. Chuck was the first Niles participant in the Veterans History Project at the Niles Public Library and worked for many years at the library during his senior years.  His transcript can be read via the library's website.

The following excerpt is taken from the Skaja Funeral Homes website at this link. 

" Charles Theodore Jacobs was born on September 12, 1925 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His parents were Lawrence and Antoinette (Frey) Jacobs.
Charles was a World War II Veteran, and proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy on board the "Fighting" U.S.S. SIMS (APD-50).
 After retirement from Allstate Charles worked many years at the Niles Public Library. Charles loved to travel and learn about the history of places he visited.
On August 10, 2011 Charles took honor flight to Washington D.C. with fellow WWII heroes."  

Illinois and the Great War

subtitled  April 6, 1917 to  June 28, 1919 is the subject of the timely online exhibit at the United States World World I Centennial Commission website.


Another important World War I website is  that of the National World War I Museum and Memorial

in Kansas City, Missouri.

Soldiers of the US 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, holding the line on the west
bank of the Meuse, opposite Consenvoye.  Signal Corps Photo

American Doughboys in the First World War

Robert Mueller, a member of the Military Writers Society of American and author of Fields of War: Fifty Key Battlefields in France delivered a generous and informative lecture on Wednesday evening, March 29, at the Niles Public Library, illustrating and documenting the decisive contribution of the fresh and effective American troops under General Pershing's command.

 He referenced the bravery of the US Marines at the Battle of Belleau Wood and Captain Lloyd Williams who famously exclaimed "Retreat, hell! We just got here." 

Mr. Mueller praised the range of titles in the library's book display and donated signed copies of  two of his published works. They will be added to the library's military history collection.

                                

Partriotic Service Award Presented to Niles Public Library

Niles veteran, Kenneth Lee, on behalf of the local Knights of Columbus Chapter, (Bishop Raymond P. Hillinger Assembly #1595) recognized the Library for its participation in the Veterans History Project and support of local veterans at the monthly Board Meeting of the Library Trustees on Wednesday, February 15. Mr. Lee is pictured on the right with Neil O'Shea, the library's VHP coordinator. A participant in the Project who served in World War II and the Korean War, Ken presented Neil with the Patriotic Services Award.

German WWII POW Camps of Chicago

Niles favorite and university lecturer in anthropology, James Meierhoff, discusses the various barracks built in Des Plaines, Skokie and 4 four other locations at the Niles Historical and Cultural Center, 8970 N. Milwaukee Avenue, on Sunday, February 26, at 2pm.

Additional Oral History Collections at National World War II Museum and Pritzker Military Museum and Library

In addition to the Veterans History Project, coordinated nationally by the Library of Congress, the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago are also very active in compiling and maintaining memoirs and recollections of America's citizen soldiers. Their collections are independent of the 80,000 oral  histories available through the American Folklife Center. The Niles Public Library is a founding, cooperating  partner with the Library of Congress in their national effort.

 The  National World War II Museum is creating an online collection of 9,000 oral and written histories.

The museum's success  was described in an Associated Press article written by Janet McConnaughey which appeared in the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago's  Pritzker Military Museum and Library launched the Holt Oral History Program and now has more than 200 personal memoirs. Sponsored by the Seedlings Foundation and in memory of Tuskegee Airman Coleman Thompson Holt, the Holt Oral History Program is dedicated to conserving the unique Stories of Service of the Citizen Soldier. Thomas Webb is the Oral History Coordinator for the PMML.   Mr Holt's  photograph appears below.

American Doughboys in the First World War

is the title of Robert Mueller's presentation on Wednesday, March 29, at 7pm at the Niles Public Library. Mr.  Mueller, a member of the Military Writers Society of America and author of Fields of War: Fifty Key Battlefields in France and Belgium presents a slide-lecture on the 100^th anniversary of America’s sending troops “over there.”

America formally entered the war on April 6, 1917, when  the U.S. House of Representatives endorsed the decision by a vote of 373 to 50, two days after the U.S. Senate voted 82 to 6 to declare war against Germany.