The quest begins -- Matthew Guerra in America -- America enters the war: the World War I Draft Act -- Registration day -- Selection of the candidates -- Deferments and exemptions: the non-declarant alien dilemma -- Welcome to Camp Upton -- Recruit processing -- Basic training: Camp Devens -- Social and recreational activities at the training camps -- Foreign-born U.S. Army recruits: non-English speaking draftees -- Enter Lt. Stanislaw A. Gutowski -- Creation of the "Foreign-Speaking Soldier sub-section" (FSS) -- FSS recruit training efforts at Camps Custer and Grant: January/February 1918 -- Restructuring plan canceled: an unexpected reversal of direction -- The "Camp Gordon plan": June 1918 -- FSS English education program -- Resurrection of the immigrant training program at other camps -- The 76th Division overseas: the St. Mihiel offensive -- The Meuse-Argonne offensive: phase one (September 26-October 3, 1918) -- Meuse-Argonne: second phase (October 4, 1918) -- Bois de fays: "woods of the fairies" (October 5, 1918) -- October 5-7, 1918: the death of a doughboy.
Summary:
"Immigrant American soldiers played an important role in World War I. Matthew Guerra (the author's great uncle) 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. Wounded by shrapnel, the 22-year-old died"-- Provided by publisher.
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