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Immigrant American soldiers played an important, often underrated role in World War I. Those who were non-citizens had no obligation to participate in the war, though many volunteered. Due to language barriers that prevented them from receiving proper training, they were often given the most dangerous and dirty jobs.
The impetus for this book was the story of Matthew Guerra (the author's great-uncle). He immigrated to America from Italy around age 12. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1918 and shipped to France, where he joined the 58th Infantry Regiment of the 4th "Ivy" Division and participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. Wounded in the Bois de Fays, the 22-year-old Guerra died in a field hospital.
List of contents
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Preface
¿1.¿The Quest Begins
¿2.¿Matthew Guerra in America
¿3.¿America Enters the War-The World War I Draft Act
¿4.¿Registration Day
¿5.¿Selection of the Candidates
¿6.¿Deferments and Exemptions-The Non-Declarant Alien Dilemma
¿7.¿Welcome to Camp Upton
¿8.¿Recruit Processing
¿9.¿Basic Training-Camp Devens
10.¿Social and Recreational Activities at the Training Camps
11.¿Foreign-Born U.S. Army Recruits-Non-English Speaking Draftees
12.¿Enter Lt. Stanislaw A. Gutowski
13.¿Creation of the "Foreign-Speaking Soldier Sub-Section" (FSS)
14.¿FSS Recruit Training Efforts at Camps Custer and Grant-January-February 1918
15.¿Restructuring Plan Canceled-An Unexpected Reversal of Direction
16.¿The "Camp Gordon Plan"-June 1918
17.¿FSS English Education Program
18.¿Resurrection of the Immigrant Training Program at Other Camps
19.¿The 76th Division Overseas-The St. Mihiel Offensive
20.¿The Meuse-Argonne Offensive-Phase One (September 26-October 3, 1918)
21.¿Meuse-Argonne-Second Phase (October 4, 1918)
22.¿Bois de Fays-"Woods of the Fairies" (October 5, 1918)
23.¿October 5-7, 1918-The Death of a Doughboy
Conclusion
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the author
Retired teacher and media specialist Dennis A. Connole spent 32 years in the Worcester school system. He is the author of three books and numerous scholarly articles and lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Summary
Provides an account detailing the important part played by immigrant soldiers in the First World War. The book centres on the author’s Great Uncle Matthew Guerra, who emigrated to America from, Italy, at approximately age 12.
