 Soon after the venture ended, Baum re-enlisted in the army and fought in World War I, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.After the death of L. Frank Baum, Ruth Plumly Thompson was selected to continue the Oz series by publishers Reilly & Lee.Frank Joslyn Baum had some desire to continue the series himself, but he represented his mother, who had turned over the rights to "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" to him once she had gotten them back from Harrison Rountree, who had acquired them after L. Frank Baum's bankruptcy, in this decision.