Remembering the American Doughboys: 1917-18
On April 6, 1917 the United States of America declared war on Germany and promptly began to create an American Expeditionary Force (AEF) that would fight alongside the French and British armies on the Western Front in France. Soldiers of the AEF would come to be known as doughboys. Modern Europeans tend to be hazy when asked how many American military personnel were in France when the guns fell silent at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. A matter of thousands, perhaps? The correct figure is two million. Their contribution to ultimate victory was crucial and decisive: seven large French cemeteries testify to their fortitude and dedication.
My account concerns the early history of this remarkable army, namely:
- its genesis, character and equipment
- the first doughboys to die in combat
- the bloody battle of Belleau Wood.
US Marine memorial plaque at Belleau Wood.