Texas WWI Gold Star Honor Roll: A Study Guide

I. Key Concepts & Themes

The Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll: Its purpose, establishment date, and scope.

Remembrances (Rems): What they are, their function, and what information they contain.

Causes of Death: The significant role of disease (Influenza and Pneumonia) in WWI casualties.

Data Challenges: Issues regarding record keeping, loss of records, and incomplete information.

Research Resources: The importance of obituaries, newspaper articles, and other sources for finding death details.

Citizen Involvement: The role of public contributions to the Honor Roll's accuracy and completeness.

II. Quiz (Short Answer)

1. When was the Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll established, and what years does it cover?

2. What is the primary purpose of the Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll?

3. What are "Remembrances" (Rems), and what kind of information do they provide?

4. Besides combat, what was a major cause of death for Texan soldiers during WWI? Explain why this was a significant factor.

5. Why is it often difficult to determine the exact place of death for some soldiers who died during WWI?

6. According to the source material, where does the Honor Roll list as place of death when supporting information is absent?

7. What non-government sources are cited as potentially useful for finding information about a soldier's death?

8. What kind of issues impacted the thoroughness and accuracy of records from this period?

9. How can individuals contribute to the Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll project?

10. What information about unlocated burial cemeteries can people offer?

III. Quiz Answer Key

1. The Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll was established in 2014 and covers the period from April 1, 1917, to December 31, 1920.

2. The Honor Roll honors the more than 5,000 Texans who served in the U.S. armed forces and died in support of the war effort during World War One.

3. Remembrances are plaques memorializing the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of Texans who died in WWI; they often include links to awards, photos, burial records, and Find A Grave memorials.

4. Influenza and pneumonia were major causes of death because they spread rapidly in crowded conditions like military camps and ships.

5. Records were often incomplete or destroyed, and many soldiers died in camps, hospitals, or aboard ships, making the exact location difficult to determine.

6. France

7. Obituaries and newspaper articles are cited as potentially useful sources for finding information about a soldier's death.

8. Fire and water damage to government records made it difficult to determine where the soldier died.

9. Individuals can contribute by providing information about veterans who were missed or by correcting errors on existing entries.

10. The 135 Texas veterans missing final burial cemetery locations.

IV. Essay Questions

Discuss the challenges faced in creating a comprehensive and accurate honor roll of Texans who died during WWI, considering the limitations of available records and the causes of death.

Explain the significance of the Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll in preserving the memory and honoring the sacrifices of Texan soldiers.

Analyze the role of disease, specifically influenza and pneumonia, in contributing to the death toll of Texan soldiers during World War One.

Evaluate the different types of information presented in the Remembrances (Rems) and how this information helps to create a fuller picture of the individual soldier's service and sacrifice.

How does public participation contribute to the completeness and accuracy of historical records like the Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll, and what are the benefits of involving the public in such projects?

V. Glossary of Key Terms

Texas World War One Gold Star Honor Roll: An online memorial established in 2014 to honor Texans who died during WWI.

Remembrance (Rem): A plaque memorializing the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of a Texan who died in WWI, found on the Honor Roll website.

Pneumonia and Influenza: Infectious diseases that caused a significant number of deaths among soldiers during WWI, often due to crowded conditions.

KIA: Killed in Action

Obituary: A published notice of a person's death, often including biographical information.

Buried at Sea: The disposal of a body into the ocean, sometimes necessary for soldiers who died aboard ships during WWI.

Missing in Action: A casualty classification assigned to combatants whose whereabouts were unknown at the end of a conflict.

USS Cyclops: A U.S. Navy naval auxiliary ship that disappeared without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle in 1918.

SS Tuscania: British troop ship sunk by a German U-boat in 1918.