The day before the belligerent countries declared an Armistice on November 11, 1918, Mortimer Lawrence of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, an aerial observer for the 104^th Aero Squadron, shot down the last enemy aircraft of the war. Sometime after his death in 1960, his papers, which included extensive correspondence and lots of photographs, arrived at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum in Madison, Wisconsin. During the fall of 2023, these papers became the focus of two students, Andy Kaucic and Ethan Isselmann, who wrote essays for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s “World War I Wisconsin” course. These two essays show the way archival papers can be used to tell very different stories about the same subject. Andy focused on Lawrence’s persistent desire to be part of the war, despite obstacles thrown his way, as well as his dramatic success as an aerial observer. Ethan concentrated on the letters between Lawrence and his family and friends, showing how this type of correspondence helped maintain soldier morale, something the U.S. army did not always prioritize, during horrendous circumstances. Together, these two papers, “The Power of Persistence” and “Letters for Victory,” provide insights about World War I from one soldier’s experience and emphasize the role aerial observers played in winning the war for the Allies.  

Dr. Leslie Bellais
University of Wisconsin-Madison

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The Power of Persistence

How a Man Deemed Inadequate Flew Above the Odds

By Andy Kaucic
University of Wisconsin-Madison

A storm of bullets wailed through the air and penetrated the bottom of the plane, one taking out the pilot’s thumb and another blowing up the instrument board. A routine trip over Montfaucon, France on September 26, 1918 had turned violent, and the victims of the attack only considered one option— fight back. After a pristinely executed pivot of the plane, Mortimer Lawrence, aerial observer and Operations Officer from the 104th Aero Squadron, gained control of his machine gun and tactically rained fire back onto his attackers. A few grueling minutes passed before the petrifying situation shifted to one of solace and gratitude. In the face of death, Lawrence successfully silenced his enemies and impressively retained the unwavering optimism he regularly modeled for the rest of his squadron. This state of calmness would not last long, as unimaginable horrors still loomed over the Wisconsin-native’s head.

For the next hour, Lawrence challenged multiple, unrelenting nests of German-manned machine guns in his tattered and bullet-ridden plane, each time delivering the same result. The determined man from Beaver Dam pushed aside all temptations to retreat to safety and efficiently put the nests firing at him out of commission. Despite numerous attempts within the hour to shoot down his plane, the Germans remained unsuccessful. However, the pilot-observer duo still had one major problem to address before getting back to their fellow soldiers safely— their engine had failed and they were quickly propelling toward a steep cliff. After some exceptional maneuvering, the expert pilot, 1st Lieutenant George S. Clark, controlled the plane and managed to narrowly escape it becoming a flaming heap at the bottom of the cliff. Lawrence walked away from this traumatizing event with a positive attitude and a newfound appreciation for life.[1]

Lawrence brought back these perspectives with him to the squadron, and they undoubtedly shaped how he led, as an Operations Officer, for the rest of the war. Mortimer Lawrence’s leadership qualities and determination to establish aerial dominance defined the excellence of the 104th Aero Squadron and had a significant impact on their achievements during World War I.

Beyond the Horizon: Mortimer Lawrence’s Story of Unyielding Determination

Lawrence rose up in the ranks at a cheetah’s pace during his time in the military and became such an influential member of the 104th squadron due to his persistent and persevering character. Prior to the United States declaration of war on Germany in April 1917, Lawrence had dropped out of the Civil Engineering department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked out of Chicago. Immediately after hearing about the war declaration, Mortimer Lawrence wasted no time and enlisted in officers’ training school, who discharged him due to his weight. Instead of giving up, he immediately enlisted in the army in Chicago.[2] This marked the beginning of Mortimer Lawrence’s long road to success, and was arguably the most important step he took. This situation shaped the way Lawrence approached future situations throughout his career— with persistence and determination to achieve his goals and help his country.

After impressing his superior officers as a drill master during a mandatory quarantine in Minnesota, Lawrence’s superiors sent him to Aerial Observer school. Despite dropping out of college, Lawrence had matured during his time in the workforce and developed a new mindset of perseverance that would get him further than he imagined possible in the military. He dedicated himself to studying, and achieved the highest marks of his class.[3] The school recommended Lawrence for three categories of specialization, where he had received excellent scores: artillery, infantry, and photo work. These scores would help Lawrence become a top prospect in his class and get assigned to the 104th Aero Squadron, where he continued to work hard and make a lasting impact on those around him. The 104th Aero Squadron was extremely successful due to their grit, persistence, resilience, and determination. Mortimer Lawrence played a huge role in modeling this behavior for his squadron and held them to the same standard when he acted as an Observations Officer, ultimately driving the squadron to achieving all that they did.

“The Best and Most Consistently Available Squadron on the Front”

Through consistently executed hard and honest work, the 104th Aero Squadron’s crafted an impressive resume. While the men of the 104th focused on creating a strategy to eliminate their German opponents, their second largest enemy attacked them by creating an environment virtually impossible to fly in. Mother Nature launched a nightmarish rainstorm lasting for two excruciating days in mid-September 1918 in St. Mihiel that would blind pilots and pierce through the skin of anyone in a plane who failed to take shelter. Through an almost superhuman effort, the squadron managed to lift themselves into the air during this hellish, relentless rain and place themselves in a perfect position to take copious photographs of the German lines, providing extremely valuable information to the United States military.[4] The squadron displayed an extreme dedication to achieving results and went to drastic lengths in order to do so.

The men of the 104^th also worked countless hours for weeks on end near the conclusion of the war. They wanted to rigorously tear apart the vital aspects of the German front and force them to fall back to bring America and its allies one step closer to victory, and their work proved to pay off. The extremely impressive grit and determination demonstrated by the 104th Aero Squadron to pull off such a great number of aerial victories in such a short span of time, coupled with the undeniable results they achieved in prior months, led to the squadron’s enviable reputation.

While other more adventurous squadrons became popular in United States’ newspapers for their exciting encounters with the German enemy, the 104th Aero Squadron operated much more carefully and out of the spotlight. This strategy earned them a favorable reputation with their commanding officers due to the low number of casualties. In fact, the 104th only experienced one casualty throughout the entire war.

That death occurred a couple months before the armistice, a few weeks after 2nd Lieutenant and Aerial Observer Charles Rust arrived at the squadron with his best friend, 1st Lieutenant and Aerial Observer Flynn Andrew. Despite his quiet and antisocial nature, Lt. Rust quickly became comfortable with his new assignment and was ready when Captain Earl Reynolds sent him on a mission to locate the German front with eleven other planes. Each of the pilots and observers were on high alert because they knew that their enemies expected their presence on this particular day. Despite the squadron proceeding with great caution, the Germans caught Lt. Rust off guard. A machine gun nest fired upon his plane and a bullet penetrated his right arm, doing enough damage for his pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Justin L. Johnson, to recognize the severity of the situation, retreat, and locate the nearest field hospital to transport his observer to. Due to Lt. Johnson’s fast actions, the squadron assumed responsibility for the safety of Lt. Rust when they became aware of his injury. The squadron experienced some other devastating wounds up to that point, but everyone had survived after being treated by the medical magicians. Regardless, Lt. Andrew requested to see his best friend to provide moral support and ensure he took the right path to healing. Capt. Reynolds, aware that the offensive would pick up and he could not be down two observers, denied Lt. Andrew’s request. Lt. Charles Rust died the next day, shattering the morale of the squadron and marking the first and only death the squadron experienced.[5]

This lack of casualties could be attributed to the 104th Aero Squadron’s typically meticulous approach to their work, making sure to consider the potential consequences of their actions before jumping into their missions. Following the Armistice, General John Pershing inspected and reviewed the squadron, making it a point to mention the excellent job the squadron had done. He was referring to the extreme determination, diligence, and passion for flight that propelled the squadron to success after success. Additionally, the Chief of Air Service, 1st Army, Colonel William Mitchell, recognized the squadron as “the best and most consistently available squadron on the front,” speaking volumes about how the squadron stood out and truly made an impact in the war.[6] The recognition for the accomplishments, bravery, and hard work was directed toward the entire squadron, yet one man made it all possible and stood out above the rest.

Soaring Success: Mortimer’s Leadership Propels the 104th Aero Squadron to New Heights

Lieutenant Mortimer Lawrence, Observations Officer in the 104th Aero Squadron, consistently led by example and modeled traits of a phenomenal leader to the rest of his squadron. An example of this leadership occurred on October 30, 1918. The 104th Aero Squadron had proved themselves time and time again a reliable squadron, and higher command started taking notice. They assigned the squadron a particularly important objective to photograph with hopes that the squadron would once again perform to the standard they had set for themselves. Unfortunately, things got messy quickly. The five planes that started off the mission began dropping out one at a time due to various difficulties, stranding Lawrence and Clark in the air with a heavy German patrol and exceedingly strong anti-aircraft fire. Despite all odds being stacked against them, they flew five kilometers past the German lines and snapped a photograph of the objective. After three unprotected run-ins with the Germans flying with a poor motor, Lawrence successfully took photographs of the territory between the Andevanne and the Bois de Hazois. This action earned Lawrence a Distinguished Service Cross nomination and demonstrated what it took to be a hero to the rest of his squadron.[7]

Mortimer Lawrence’s determination for aerial dominance also had an extreme influence on the success of the 104th Aero Squadron. While Lawrence’s actions directly helped out the United States as a whole by bringing back extremely valuable photographs to aid in their military’s strategy, he also set an example of extraordinary heroism and inspired all of the other men in the squadron to hold the same determination for domination. On November 10, 1918, the final day of World War I, the 28-year old found himself in a familiar, yet terrifying situation that he faced with resilience and mental toughness. On a routine photo mission, Lawrence and two other planes assembled into a V-shaped formation and headed towards the German lines. Their objective was clear— to take as many valuable pictures of the German front as possible and return back safely. This would be a challenging feat to accomplish though, as the trio soon became outnumbered. Seemingly emerging out of thin air, seven German planes erupted through the sky and relentlessly fired at Lawrence and his partners. The attackers attempted to force mistakes by creating an overwhelming sense of panic and urgency in Lawrence, but the courageous fighter calmly dropped his camera and reached for his own gun to retaliate. Despite the heavy and daunting fire, Lawrence instantly shifted his concentration onto the enemy planes with every fiber of his being. He unleashed terror onto his attackers and connected perfectly with one of the planes, causing it to spiral out of control and go down in smoke. With their leader gone, the six other German planes retreated and left Lawrence and his squadron alone. Lawrence successfully saved his squadron from adding to their death toll, and shot down what turned out to be the last German plane eliminated in the entire war.[8] In the face of an unexpected attack, Mortimer Lawrence effectively controlled his emotions in a do-or-die situation and protected those under his command. This mental resilience was modeled to the rest of the squadron and ultimately inspired others to act in a similar way in order to achieve the same results. Although Lawrence’s resilience rippled throughout the squadron after his success, many other qualities made him an impactful leader and significantly increased the successes of his squadron.

Mortimer Lawrence had an explosive military career — after just a couple months of being assigned to the 104th Aero Squadron, 1st Lieutenant Lawrence became Observations Officer and gained a significant amount of added responsibility, causing him to have to stay up from 5 am to midnight to accomplish all of his tasks.[9] This determination and his countless acts of heroism proved to his superiors that he belonged in the role and could lead his team to victory. Lawrence was also on the brink of padding his resume even more, as he earned a recommendation for a captaincy around the same time. Lawrence shaped up to be a notable and impressive member of the military based on proving himself time and time again to be fit for some of the most sought after roles in spite of armistice and without promotion to captaincy. Though Lawrence may seem like a born warrior and leader that was simply not the case. Only through perseverance and dedication did he manage to climb the ranks so quickly and find success.

Ripples of Influence: Embracing the Mortimer Lawrence Mindset for Lasting Impact

 The story of Mortimer Lawrence makes one thing perfectly clear— one person can make difference. Lawrence’s ability to bounce back from setbacks and focus on personal growth undoubtedly helped shape him into a phenomenal leader, putting him in the position to model his resilience and determination to the rest of his squadron. Under Lawrence’s command, the 104th Aero Squadron emerged triumphant, and many important men in the war praised the squadron for their consistent hard work, bravery, and ample accomplishments. Lawrence undoubtedly influenced all of the men in the squadron, playing a huge role in their success in the war overall and sending them home with a new healthy mindset geared toward success.

Lawrence’s inspirational story is proof that adopting a relentless and positive mindset can lead to extraordinary outcomes, even in the face of adversity. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of resilience and determination, qualities that not only propelled him forward but also inspired those around him.

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Notes:

[1] Mortimer Lawrence (ML) to “Dad” [Thomas Lawrence in Beaver Dam], November 24, 1918, Mortimer Lawrence Papers, box 1, Wisconsin Veterans Museum (WVM); John Gilchrist, The 104th Aero Squadron (Richmond, VA: Privately printed, 1968), 49.

[2] “Mortimer Lawrence Record,” WVM, https://wisvetsmuseum.catalogaccess.com/people/4 (accessed December 17, 2023).

[3] ML to “Folks,” September 25, 1917, ML Papers, box 1, WVM. Lawrence wrote, “I have the highest average in the class—98%.”

[4] ML to “Folks,” September 25, 1917, ML Papers, box 1, WVM. Lawrence wrote, “I have the highest average in the class—98%.”[1] ML to “Folks,” September 15, 1918, ML Papers, box 1, WVM. The rain occurred sometime between the letters Lawrence wrote on September 8 and September 15. Gilchrist noted that thunderstorms occurred on September 12 in St. Mihiel (See p. 34).

[5] Gilchrist, 69-72.

[6] ML (Belrain, France) to “Folks,” December 14, 1918, ML Papers, box 1, WVM.

[7] Gilchrist, 116-118.

[8] Gilchrist, 126-129.

[9] ML to “Folks,” November 3, 1918 (“stayed up from 5 am to midnight”) and November 11, 1918 (Observations Officer), ML Papers, box 1, WVM. Lawrence mentions his captaincy recommendation in the November 11 letter.

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Letters for Victory: How Messages from Home Boosted Soldiers’ Morale

By Ethan Isselmann
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Class of 2026

Mortimer M. Lawrence: An Exceptional Soldier

On November 10, 1918, three United States planes flew over enemy lines, taking surveillance photos from above. Suddenly, seven German planes attacked their V-formation, forcing the US soldiers to dive sharply toward their territory. One of the aerial observers quickly put down his camera, picked up his machine gun, and returned fire on the enemies. Within seconds the US soldiers saw a German plane go down with a trail of black smoke. The other attacking planes quickly broke away, and all three of the US planes returned safely. Mortimer Lawrence, the quick-witted soldier, saved his comrades and shot down the last German plane as the belligerent nations declared armistice less than 24 hours later.[1]

As an exceptional soldier, Mortimer Lawrence’s achievement on November 10th was not an anomaly. Despite being honorably discharged from Officers School for being underweight, Lawrence’s determination to serve made him a role model in the US.[2] Besides being credited with shooting down the last German plane, Lawrence received many other honors throughout the Great War. Lawrence’s observation over enemy lines helped Allied forces at Andevanne, leading to a Citation for Distinguished and Exceptional Gallantry and the Silver Star. Lawrence also held various roles with the 104th Squadron including Operations Officer, Adjutant Officer, and Commanding Officer.[3] Altogether, Lawrence was a highly successful soldier with much merit, becoming well-known in Wisconsin following the war.

Lawrence’s success, however, could not have been accomplished without the support of his family back in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Throughout Lawrence’s time in the US military, he frequently communicated with his family through letters. In these letters, Lawrence informed them of his experiences, asked for favors, and occasionally just used the letters to express frustration or happiness. In return, they sent letters giving moral support, reassuring and encouraging Mortimer of their pride in him for doing his duty. These letters reveal a connection between Lawrence and his family throughout the war. The behavior and attitude of Wisconsinites were critical because they had a direct impact on the mental state of those serving in Europe, as seen through examining the connection between Lawrence and his family.

The Harsh Conditions of the War-Front on Soldiers’ Mental Health

Soldiers in World War Ⅰ dealt with miserable circumstances due to the combination of trench warfare and advancement in military technology. Soldiers had to face terrible conditions while simultaneously dealing with the fear and struggle of fighting for their lives, creating a harsh environment that greatly damaged their mental health. Trench warfare was nothing new, being traced back to the Civil War; however, the combination of it and the advancements in military weapons made the battlefield more fatal than ever.[4] Historian Brian Dunleavy has emphasized the brutality of the Great War’s new technologies by noting that, “The loss of life was greater than in any previous war in history, in part because militaries were using new technologies, including tanks, airplanes, submarines, machine guns, modern artillery, flamethrowers, and poison gas.”[5] These new technologies amplified the barbarity of war, creating a more fearful and stressful environment for soldiers.[6]

Besides dealing with the increased fatality of warfare technology, soldiers also had to endure the struggle of trench warfare. In one of his letters, Lawrence described the conditions soldiers faced as “cold”, “raw”, and “disagreeable”.[7] These unsanitary and harsh conditions led to the quick spread of disease and a poor physical state.[8] Lawrence faced these experiences and even wrote about them in several of his letters. In one of his letters, Lawrence wrote that the US military gave soldiers vaccines for typhoid, smallpox, and scarlet fever.[9] Additionally, Lawrence had to suffer from these poor conditions more than once. In 1917, unsanitary conditions led to Lawrence’s hospitalization for the infection of his “badly swollen foot”. Then in November 1918, near the war’s end, Lawrence wrote how he had the Spanish flu and was lucky enough to recover quickly.[10] Disease and poor physical health were not the only negative effects that trench warfare caused. Harold Macmillan, who would later become prime minister of Britain, explained how trench warfare also negatively affected soldiers’ mental state due to increased fear and stress:

Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about the modern battlefield is the desolation and emptiness of it all. One can look for miles and see no human being. But in those miles of country lurk (like moles or rats, it seems) thousands,  even hundreds of thousands of men, planning against each other perpetually some new device of death. Never showing themselves, they launch at each other bullet, bomb, aerial torpedo, and shell. And somewhere too are the little cylinders of gas, waiting only for the moment to spit forth their nauseous and destroying fumes.[11]

These conditions led to soldiers’ mental state deteriorating quickly, leaving them exhausted, scared, and in great need of reassurance. Macmillan’s quote displays that soldiers faced tremendous amounts of instability and the constant stress of attack.

Altogether new military technology and trench warfare created the perfect storm to negatively impact soldiers both physically and mentally. Soldiers did not only have to face the most fatal conflict in history to that date, but they also had to endure extremely stressful circumstances.[12] Heightened levels of fear, anxiety, and stress led to a clear consequence of the conditions soldiers faced: “shell shock”.[13] Shell shock, now known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), left soldiers in a state of helplessness. Without the levels of support that are present today, soldiers continued in panic, disillusion, and a possible inability to sleep, talk, or reason.

Little Support for Soldiers

While soldiers faced tremendous pressure during the war, along with great physical and mental burdens, the United States military gave them little support. Physically, the US military gave soldiers the bare minimum to survive and continue fighting; mentally, an effective support system did not exist. However, the military did create a systematic program to sustain morale among the troops, known as the Military Morale Section.[14] While on the surface this program might sound positive for soldiers’ mental health, it failed to support them and give them the necessary mental relief. A primary reason for this was that the program’s goal did not aim to help soldiers reach a good mental state but instead focused on making them believe in the fighting spirit, the “will to win”.[15] Additionally, the slow implementation of the program meant it never reached its desired goal, revealing the absence of a successful form of moral support implemented on the part of the US government or military.[16]

The failure of the program can be attributed to the fact that the military saw a morale or mental support program as essentially unnecessary and wanted to put their focus on greater needs, such as equipping and training hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Instead, the US government believed the public had the responsibility of boosting soldiers’ morale, and put the burden on them. Thus, morale went “unexamined” and “unexplored”, in an institutional sense, until a German program with a similar focus emerged at the end of the war.[17] The US government and military then quickly realized the “vital importance” of having a parallel program and worked to implement the Military Moral Section. The US believed that “civil and military agencies” had the responsibility to support morale and soldiers’ mental state, and by the time they understood the need for a morale program, it was simply too little too late.[18]

Necessity of Positive Attitude Back Home

Although the United States military and government failed at supporting soldiers’ mental health and creating an effective morale program during World War Ⅰ that did not mean that a supportive and patriotic attitude back home did not matter. The US government itself believed that “boosting morale was crucial” and that “American society” needed to come together to encourage the soldiers to keep up the good fight.[19] With soldiers receiving little institutional support from the government or military, they essentially relied on the support and help of those they knew back home to help motivate them in the war-effort. Once the US entered the war, many believed that the public had an obligation to do whatever possible to support soldiers overseas, and one of the clear ways to help was by displaying support through a positive attitude. Thus, it became a necessity, and patriotic duty, for the public back home to have a positive attitude towards the war and support soldiers’ morale. Soon, it became an expectation that as a US citizen, you had an obligation to be supportive of soldiers and the war cause. This notion led to social pressure and fear-mongering of those who were hesitant to support the war.

This uplifting attitude and moral support of soldiers is clearly visible in the case of Mortimer Lawrence. In Wisconsin and Beaver Dam particularly, Lawrence became known for his achievements, bravery, and patriotism. On September 15, 1917, a newspaper article praised Lawrence for his success overseas.[20] This praise became a definite motivation for soldiers in Europe who hoped to be known and praised for their brave actions as well. Thus, giving soldiers credit for their actions was one of the simplest ways to support them mentally. Following the war, the public credited Lawrence numerous times for his bravery, and publications made his “distinguished and exceptional” gallantry known.[21] Along with praise, a positive attitude also supported soldiers as it let them know that the US public believed in them and their cause. Altogether, this patriotic and supportive spirit reassured soldiers and gave them some peace of mind and motivation.

The public’s attitude influenced soldiers through another form of support and motivation, it created expectations for soldiers to live up to. Soldiers were not only serving their country, but always representing their hometowns and families, and it was important to them to make them proud. Lawrence mentions these “high expectations”, and how it helped motivate him, in one of his letters.[22] The public’s attitude not only mattered in a sense of mental support but also motivation and mental clarity. The expectations back home helped soldiers stay focused on their cause and made clear to them why they continued to fight and risk their lives. In other words, the attitude of the public both supported soldiers, as well as gave them a reason to keep fighting.

Letters: Essential Morale & Communication from Home

While newspaper articles revealed praise from the public back home, the main way soldiers could perceive support was from letters their friends and family sent. Soldiers faced terrible conditions, and due to the absence of institutional support from the US government or military, relied on letters for essential morale. Due to the numerous hardships and brutalities soldiers faced on the war-front, they often had poor morale and felt isolated and apathetic.

Letters, however, provided an escape from this harshness through the support and reassurance they communicated. In this sense, letters proved “critical to the emotional well-being of soldiers” and provided reassurance that the public still valued their service.[23] Letters thus became the main source of boosting morale and support for soldiers’ mental health, making them quite essential during the war. In letters soldiers sent home, they could provide updates to their loved ones; in letters they received, soldiers could receive support and reassurance of life at home.

However, within letters, soldiers did not discuss the atrocities of war or the details of their experiences, but rather simply communicated about their personal lives with their families. Soldiers did so because of the military’s censorship of classified or strategic information, which the military saw as necessary for preventing vital information from falling into the hands of the enemy. Lawrence himself mentioned censorship in one of his letters and a magazine later quoted him stating that soldiers had to be cautious with what they wrote.[24]

Although, censorship proved to be beneficial, as it forced soldiers to write and think about things other than war. Letters often focused on family life back home, which proved to be a great mental escape for soldiers. In this sense, letters focused on reassuring soldiers that they had a “civilian identity” to return to and that all was well back home.[25] Lawrence himself had this escape and reassurance through the letters he wrote to his family, where he often questioned life back home and talked about life after the war.[26]

Furthermore, letters not only eased soldiers’ minds and reassured them, but also positively uplifted their spirits. Letters, more than anything, acted as a reminder of the love from family and friendships that soldiers had back home.[27] They gave them something positive to look towards, helping resolve the depressive environment they faced. Along with letters occasionally came parcels that contained goods, such as food, clothes, and trinkets from home, which served as “reminders of familial affection.”[28] Letters thus created an effective communication between the war-front and life back home which proved to drastically help soldiers’ mental state.

Morale & Support: Producing Effective Soldiers

The improvement of soldiers’ mental state not only proved beneficial to their morale and health but also to their effectiveness on the war-front. This primarily happened due to the soldiers being able to focus on the war and their duty because they knew that life back home was all right. Soldiers left behind parents, siblings, wives, and children, and they struggled to focus if they did not know that their family back home was safe and healthy. Letters provided this reassurance, allowing soldiers to put their full attention towards the war. Additionally, letters gave soldiers mental clarity which aided them on the war front by increasing their sharpness. If soldiers constantly felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and weak then they would be limited in their ability to successfully carry out their duties. The morale and support given in letters helped clear their minds and rejuvenate them leading to more effective soldiers. Lawrence himself makes this point when he once stated:

It is a great inspiration to us to know that womanhood of the country is so silicitous [sic] for our welfare. You may be sure this will influence the American soldiers.[29]

Lawrence’s statement makes clear that the positive attitude and reassuring support of those back home absolutely had a beneficial effect on soldiers.

Besides the moral support of soldiers, the public also supported them materially through the parcels sent along with letters. In numerous of his letters, Lawrence mentions goods that his family sent him including clothes, food, and personal items.[30] While soldiers did not receive these materials often, the few times they did still made a drastic difference in their mental state and attitude. When Lawrence mentions the goods he is sent, he always communicated how greatly he appreciated them, and how much it cheered him up. In this sense, the goods soldiers got sent were not extremely beneficial in a physical sense, but rather served as another morale booster. The uplifting effect of the public’s support led to soldiers being in a better mental state to effectively serve their nation.

Conclusion: Importance of Patriotism

Mortimer Lawrence’s letters and experiences made clear that the attitude and support of those back home truly mattered, as they influenced the mental state of soldiers, and thus their efficiency. Furthermore, letters served as the main way for those back home to display their support and reassure those on the war-front. Lawrence’s experience displays this quite well. He had a close relationship and communication with his family through their letters, and his healthy and upbeat mental state was clearly shown through his great leadership and quick-witted actions. However, public support for soldiers went further than morale and a good mental state. The larger narrative of World War Ⅰ in the United States reveals that supporting morale and a healthy mind was closely connected to supporting an upbeat fighting spirit and patriotism.

Public support and patriotism were not only seen as valuable for soldiers, but the country as a whole. Supporting the war-effort, and soldiers’ morale, became seen as patriotic, and throughout the country, it quickly became seen as an expectation and duty for citizens. Many of those who were showing support, and providing mental reassurance for those overseas, were the same individuals who believed that it was their patriotic duty. The notion that supporting the war-effort was essential led to the US quickly creating a climate of social pressure and fear-mongering, forcing all to support the war and soldiers.

Taking a look again at the example of Mortimer Lawrence, the public not only viewed him as a strong, brave, and heroic soldier but most importantly a patriot. In a newspaper clipping from 1917, Lawrence’s “patriotic spirit” was discussed as he adamantly pursued serving in the military.[31] Even following being honorably discharged from Officers School, Lawrence was willing to serve as a “common soldier” even if it meant less respect and prestige.[32] Lawrence’s determination, as well as the support of his family, is what led him to achieve the great things he did. As a response, publications throughout Wisconsin praised him for his gallantry and patriotism. One even stated that Lawrence was a “good man” who could not be “kept down”, showing great determination to serve and good leadership.[33]

Altogether, Lawrence’s story provides a clear outline on how the public’s attitude towards the war, and support for soldiers, was seen as an essential patriotic duty. Not only did public support provide a boost to morale and mental reassurance for soldiers, but it also made them more effective on the war-front.

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Notes:

[1] Mortimer Lawrence to “Folks,” Nov. 11, 1918, Mortimer Lawrence (ML) Papers, box 1, Wisconsin Veterans Museum (WVM).

[2] Mortimer Lawrence to “Folks,” July 27, 1917, ML Papers, box 1, WVM.

[3] “Summary World War I Service Record of Mortimer M. Lawrence,” ML Papers, box 1, folder 1, WVM.

[4] Brian Dunleavy, “Life in the Trenches of World War I,” HISTORY, April 23, 2018, www.history.com/news/life-in-the-trenches-of-world-war-i. Accessed December 8, 2023.

[5] Facing History & Ourselves, “The Brutal Realities of World War I,” August 2, 2016, www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/brutal-realities-world-war-i. Accessed December 8, 2023.

[6] Dunleavy, “Life in the Trenches of World War I.”

[7] Mortimer Lawrence to his family, May 27, 1917, “The Life and Letters of World War I Aerial Observer Lt. Mortimer M. Lawrence, ”www.worldwar1centennial.org/index.php/wisconsin-in-wwi-articles/2422-the-life-and-letters-of-world-war-i-aerial-observer-lt-mortimer-m-lawrence-5.html. Accessed December 8, 2023.

[8] Dunleavy, “Life in the Trenches of World War I.”

[9] Mortimer Lawrence to his family, May 27, 1917.

[10] Mortimer Lawrence to “Folks,” Nov. 11, 1918.

[11] Facing History & Ourselves, “The Brutal Realities of World War I.”

[12] Facing History & Ourselves, “The Brutal Realities of World War I.”

[13] Dunleavy, “Life in the Trenches of World War Ⅰ.”

[14] Thomas M. Camfield, “Will to Win’: The U.S. Army Troop Morale Program of World War I,” Military Affairs 41, no. 3 (October 1977): 125-128.

[15] Camfield, “Will to Win,” 126.

[16] Camfield, “Will to Win,” 127.

[17] Camfield, “Will to Win,” 125.

[18] Camfield, “Will to Win,” 127.

[19] Danielle DeSimone, “How Did Americans Support U.S. Troops During World War I? Here Are 5 Ways,” https://www.uso.org/stories/2297-world-war-i-centennial. Accessed December 8, 2023.

[20] “Is Attending a School for Aerial Observers,” Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, September 15, 1917, newspaper clipping, ML Papers, box 2, folder 1, WVM.

[21] “Cited for Bravery in Action,” The Ladle 12, no. 1 (July 1919), ML Papers, box 2, folder 17, WVM. The Ladle was the newsletter for the Western Malleables Co. in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where Lawrence worked before entering the army.

[22] Mortimer Lawrence to “Folks,” September 14, 1917, ML Papers, box 1, WVM.

[23] Martha Hanna, “War Letters: Communication between Front and Home Front,” International Encyclopedia of the First World War, October 8, 2014, https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/war-letters-communication-between-front-and-home-front/. Accessed December 8, 2023.

[24] “‘Mort’ Heard From—‘Somewhere in France,’” The Ladle 7, no. 1 (March 1918), ML Papers, box 2, folder 17, WVM.

[25] Hanna, “War Letters.”

[26] Mortimer Lawrence to “Folks,” June 3, 1917, “The Life and Letters.”

[27] DeSimone, “How Did Americans Support U.S. Troops.”

[28] Hanna, “War Letters.”

[29] “Soldiers Send Thanks for Gift Comfort Kits,” Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, undated, but after August 12, 1917, newspaper clipping, ML Papers, box 2, folder 1, WVM.

[30] Mortimer Lawrence to “Folks,” November 11, 1918.

[31] “In the Service Despite Weight,” Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, July 25, 1917, newspaper clipping, ML Papers, box 2, folder 1, WVM.

[32] Mortimer Lawrence to “Folks,” July 27, 1917, ML Papers, box 1, WVM.

[33] “‘Mort’ Flies High, The Ladle, undated, but c. September 1917, newspaper clipping, ML Papers, box 2, folder 17, WVM.

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