The Theodore Roosevelt Song

Theodore Roosevelt

Loved war

But then his son was killed in battle

And TR died shortly after

A broken man

Loyal S. Kincaid

Loyal S. Kincaid

Printed: Marvin, Grand Ledge, Michigan

On verso: To Aunt Melissa, a Merry Xmas
Age 3 mo., 23 days
Height 2 1/2 ft.
Weight 17 lbs.

Loyal Kincaid was born July 30, 1890 in Michigan, died June 1, 1968. He served as a private in World War I.

Aunt Melissa was my great-great grandmother, Lydia Melissa Reeves, who would've been living in Centralia, Washington in 1890.

Interesting to read this early use of "Xmas." A little digging shows the term has actually been around a lot longer than I suspected.

The Woodrow Wilson Song

Woodrow Wilson

Was a bit of a prick.

Up his butt

Was a great big stick.

And not the kind 

That Teddy liked to carry.

It was a rod of righteousness

And frankly pretty scarey.

On the one hand

He was racist

On the other hand

Progressive.

After the Great War

His hunt for Reds

Was too Excessive.

He fought

For the League of Nations.

Then 

He had a stroke.

He got a "F"

in Political relations.

And his spirit

Broke.

Maybe if he hadn't

Been such a goody-goody,

More people

Would've been his friend

And hailed him

As "Woody."

Phone photo 2623

Winged Victory World War I Memorial

Olympia, Washington

Morty Comix # 2492

Morty Comix # 2492 found a new home and enhanced a recent issue of Cat Fancy in the Centralia Timberland Library, Centralia, Washington. Outside the library is a memorial honoring the four WWI veterans killed in the Centralia Massacre, Nov. 11, 1919.

I had relatives on both sides of that tragic event where Wobblies and vets clashed. My great-uncle testified at the trial. His mechanic business was next door to the IWW Hall. In the early 1970s I interviewed several people who were involved, including three eyewitnesses to Dale Hubbard's murder and Wesley Everest's capture. I also learned about the prosecutors wiretapping the defense during the trial at Montesano and what they did with the info. All in all, a pretty sordid story, and one day I'll publish it.

Family trivia: My great-great grandfather once lived in a house at the present location of the gray building in the background of the last photo.

When America Invaded Russia : an American in Vladivostok, 1919 : a diary / by Alpha H. Fleming

I transcribed this unique diary in the McCleary Museum by painstakingly banging out it letter by letter on my old typewriter in 1990. I tried to follow the original as closely as I could. Not sure how many of these I published.

A very interesting primary document and soldier's narrative of the Allied occupation of the Soviet Union, specifically from a member of the American Expeditionary Forces.

OK, so I'm posting this bit of history on a blog primarily devoted to obscuro comix. Just one of the many ways we try to be eclectic here on Morty the Blog.

Al Fleming's Diary 1919