Disney author and film historian, J.B. Kaufman graciously wrote this piece for us for Veteran's Day:
On this Veterans' Day, November 11th, many of use will be saluting our veterans who have served the United States in the armed forces.
Here at The Walt Disney Museum, we feel it’s also appropriate to pause and acknowledge Walt’s service to his country at the time of World War I. When America entered the war, Walt wanted very much to join the military, but unlike his older brother Roy—who served in the Navy during the war—Walt was simply too young.
Undaunted, he looked for another way to serve. He found it in the American Red Cross, which was recruiting ambulance drivers and other workers to support the troops’ efforts overseas. Even at that, Walt was still one year too young to serve with the Red Cross, but altered the birth date on his application so that he could be accepted.
Walt landed in Europe just as the war was ending, but remained there for nearly a year, driving an ambulance and performing other functions during the American cleanup effort. It was one of the most important experiences of his youth.