Johnson County lost the following heroes to World War I:

Cowan, Joseph Hyder
Forrester, John William
Greer, Glenn Jim
Grindstaff, John Elbert 
Hawkins, Ross
​Hawks, Thurman Edward
Hines, Wiley (James)
Mains, Joseph Ross
Martin, Jadie Hugh Christian Burkett
Matney, Earl Price
McGuire, Samuel G.
Miller, Lon Hayes
Owens, David Clayton
Payne, Albert Cross
Poe, James Harrison
Potter, Rufus Andy
Reeves, Clinton Hazel
Stout, Blan Sampson
Wallace, Nicholas Elias
Warren, Millard Fillmore
Williams, Don Starks
Wilson, Ray Eugene

     In April 1914 the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated because of his perceived threat to Serbian independence as Germany escalated their offensive into Luxenbourg and Belgium.  This assassination triggered the alliance of many nations  against Germany.  Those allies included Great Britain, Russia,, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Romania, Greece, France, Belgium, Canada, Serbia, India, Portugal, Montenegro, Poland and the United States.    Together those allied forces halted the German advance into France during the First Battle of Marne, September 5-12, 1914.  This pushed the Germans back about 50 miles, but it also saved Paris from capture.  This was a great strategic victory, as the French confidence was renewed, and it ended Germany's vision of a quick victory on the Western Front.

     By February 1917 the US had severed diplomatic relations with Germany and in April  President Woodrow Wilson declared war and named General John J Pershing the commander of  (AEF) American Expeditionary Forces who landed in England in June. American combat troops began arriving in France by end of June 1917.

     The Battle of Gallipoli was known as one of the Allied Powers most unsuccessful attempts, lasting from February 1915 to January 1916 with the Turkish Army holding strong.  More than 500,000 soldiers were lost.

     In May 1916 the Battle of Jutland became the battle that changed the course of World War I.  It was primarily a naval battle that took place on Denmark's North Sea coast.  The Germans retreated by June 1, 1916 but they had managed to take down 14 British ships and 6780 British soldiers - however, the British maintained their blockade against the Germans.

     The July 1916 Battle of Somme was one of the bloodiest and by its end in November over 1.5 million troops had been killed.  The first American, Harry Butters, died at Somme on August 31, 1916

     A long hard 18 months of fighting ensued when finally on November 11, 1918 at 11 am the Armistice as signed at Compiegne Forrest.  The terms were harsh to show Germany's acceptance of defeat and to strongly discourage a re-start of the hostilities​     

Fighting at the Battle of Somme, France