World War I at TCU
The First World War began in July of 1914 and lasted until November of 1918, with over thirty countries taking part in the conflict. As the war began, and primarily took place, in Europe, the United States was late to enter the affray, waiting until April of 1917. In response to entering the war, the nation as a whole mobilized to answer the call, including the students, faculty, and staff of TCU.
World War I affected TCU in a variety of ways. Some, like the instance of an exhibitionist pilot accidentally crashing into the north side of the Main building before landing unhurt in a honeysuckle arbor, were temporary, and even somewhat lighthearted. Others, such as the 145 men who served during the war and the 3 who died doing so, were much more serious and permanent. TCU aided in the war effort by creating the Students Army Training Corps (SATC) and the TCU Red Cross Society, with male students joining the former and female students signing up for the latter. Still, when the armistice was declared in November 1918, TCU was able to slip, quite easily, back into its normal, pre-war existence.