An American Soldier in World War I

by George Browne, David L. Snead (Editor)

George “Brownie” Browne was a twenty-three-year-old civil engineer in Waterbury, Connecticut, when the United States entered the Great War in 1917. He enlisted almost immediately and served in the American Expeditionary Forces until his discharge in 1919. An American Soldier in World War I is an edited collection of more than one hundred letters that Browne wrote to his fiancée, Martha “Marty” Johnson, describing his experiences during World War I as part of the famed 42nd, or Rainbow, Division. From September 1917 until he was wounded in the Meuse-Argonne offensive in late October 1918, Browne served side by side with his comrades in the 117th Engineering Regiment. He participated in several defensive actions and in offensives on the Marne, at Saint-Mihiel, and in the Meuse-Argonne. This extraordinary collection of Brownie’s letters reveals the day-to-day life of an American soldier in the European theater. The difficulties of training, transportation to France, dangers of combat, and the ultimate strain on George and Marty’s relationship are all captured in these pages. David L. Snead weaves the Browne correspondence into a wider narrative about combat, hope, and service among the American troops. By providing a description of the experiences of an average American soldier serving in the American Expeditionary Forces in France, this study makes a valuable contribution to the history and historiography of American participation in World War I.

Genres: History, World War I

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2006

Reviews

[Addie Nolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn’t have chosen to read this book on my own (besides the fact that my wonderful mentor Dr. David Snead is the editor haha). That said, the striking bottom-up narrative of George “Brownie” Browne’s WWI service deserves ample attention. Snead expertly weaves the letters Brownie wrote to his girl, Martha “Marty” Johnson, into the broader picture of the Great War. Not something I’m itching to read again, but I’m glad I had reason to get through it once for my job!

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the history by the author interspersed with Brownie’s letters to his sweetheart. The eye witness account of a soldier in an engineering division was unique in my experience. Book left me wanting more.

[Chris Kalbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Not a big fan of the style. It has a bunch of letters between a couple during WWI. The letters are all the ones from the guy because the girls were left in Europe. Then between letters Snead gives historical context.