Description
| Product ID: | 9781476675435 |
| Product Form: | Paperback / softback |
| Country of Manufacture: | US |
| Title: | America's "Foreign Legion" |
| Subtitle: | Immigrant Soldiers in the Great War |
| Authors: | Author: Dennis A. Connole |
| Page Count: | 254 |
| Subjects: | History, 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000, First World War, First World War, c 1914 to c 1918 (including WW1) |
| Description: | 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. 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. |
| Imprint Name: | McFarland & Co Inc |
| Publisher Name: | McFarland & Co Inc |
| Country of Publication: | GB |
| Publishing Date: | 2019-01-11 |