?WWI Living History Project? When I saw the title of these two programs I immediately though that this was something I should listen to. The additional information said that program included interviews with some of the surviving veterans who, as I thought had long since passed away leaving only their taped memories. This was not the case, as William Everett has in fact discovered that there are still survivors of this conflict. They range in age is now from 105 to 113 and they are still able to talk about their experiences. To add to gravitas to this production, veteran news anchor man & reporter Walter Cronkite adds commentary.

The beginning of program one give us a short history of the many reasons of how this ?War to End all Wars? came about and how things progress up to the time that America became involved in the fighting on April 6th 1917. America joined this conflict when its shipping was threatened and the security of the US Mexican boarder through which a Germany invasion was threatened.

Program two goes into how the U.S. prepared to go to war and what came after the close of hostilities. Samuel Goldberg talks about convincing a fellow officer that desertion was not the answer to his troubles, and how he was a Jewish Mother to a lot of them what fun he had. How 16 year old George Johnston, managed to get himself accidentally taken to Buenos Aires; and spent 2 years returning home, arriving in time to be drafted.

Both programmes are interspersed with music written for them by composer Chuck Wild; William Everett also includes famous songs of the time.

I was moved when William Everett told us at the end of the second program that since the recordings both Homer Anderson & George Johnston had passed away. How much longer the remainder of these men have is impossible to tell, but the account they have left us is invaluable and hopefully will go some way to convince us all of how futile this so called ?Great War? actually was.

I met the producer at PRPD and was excited about the concept of this program, though I was a little skeptical as to whether the material justified two full hours of radio time.

World War ONE veterans? I had no idea these people still existed. I must say from the outset that I'm no fan of flag-waving appeals to patriotism, and most vet's day programs turn me off.

Folks, this is something different. I've been in commercial and public radio for 22 years, and I've never heard anything quite like this. Walter Cronkite's narrative in the first half-hour is compelling, if his voice is just a bit rough around the edges. (Cronkite is not in fact the host of the entire program but just this first hour. From here the producer and his veterans tell the story.) I differ with the writer (Cronkite?) on just how much the Zimmermann note had to do with U.S. involvement; submarine warfare was THE central factor, and few historians would challenge the point. A minor point ...

But wait till you meet the veterans. They're old and crusty but for this listener they brought the WW1 story down to manageable dimensions. I only wish the producers had found more of them. Leaving the story of WW1 in the hands of 12 witnesses is a bit tenuous -- but then, they ARE the last veterans. Once they're gone, the whole WW1 thing is lost forever.

This is a point well elucidated in the last half hour. If you're auditioning this piece, don't miss this "tribute" section. You won't walk away with a dry eye, I promise you.

The only shame is that I can't award this fine work more than five stars. Give it a listen.