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The Command is Forward: Tales of the A. E. F. battlefields as they appeared in The Stars and Stripes
The Stars and Stripes was the official newspaper of the A. E. F. (American Expeditionary Forces) during the First World War — a satirical, homespun, and highly unmilitary weekly.
When Stars and Stripes first began in February 1918, the A. E. F. was a small and not particularly confident collection of troops scattered across war-torn Europe.
The Stars and Stripes strove to improve morale and provide far-flung American troops with the sense of unity.
The publication became the voice of the common American soldier.
It was the enlisted men who wrote its editorials, told its stories, sang its songs, and gradually took over its full editorial control.
The Command Is Forward is a collection from June 1918 through to the Armistice. It brings together many humorous and harrowing American experiences of the First World War.
Touching on the inhabitants of occupied France, the doughboys of the American regiments, and the grit and determination to not only survive but find victory, these tales bring to life the men, women, children, and even animals of war-torn France.
Alexander Woollcott (1887-1943) was an American critic and commentator for The New Yorker magazine. During the First World War Woollcott was posted overseas and selected as part of the team for the Stars and Stripes , a publication that reported the war from the viewpoint of the common soldier. After the war, he returned to newspapers and radio. In addition to his literary and radio careers, he appeared in several Broadway shows and films. His literary publications were extensive and included several books published posthumously.
When Stars and Stripes first began in February 1918, the A. E. F. was a small and not particularly confident collection of troops scattered across war-torn Europe.
The Stars and Stripes strove to improve morale and provide far-flung American troops with the sense of unity.
The publication became the voice of the common American soldier.
It was the enlisted men who wrote its editorials, told its stories, sang its songs, and gradually took over its full editorial control.
The Command Is Forward is a collection from June 1918 through to the Armistice. It brings together many humorous and harrowing American experiences of the First World War.
Touching on the inhabitants of occupied France, the doughboys of the American regiments, and the grit and determination to not only survive but find victory, these tales bring to life the men, women, children, and even animals of war-torn France.
Alexander Woollcott (1887-1943) was an American critic and commentator for The New Yorker magazine. During the First World War Woollcott was posted overseas and selected as part of the team for the Stars and Stripes , a publication that reported the war from the viewpoint of the common soldier. After the war, he returned to newspapers and radio. In addition to his literary and radio careers, he appeared in several Broadway shows and films. His literary publications were extensive and included several books published posthumously.
- GenresHistory
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2008
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About the author
Alexander Woollcott
133 books15 followersAlexander Humphreys Woollcott (1887-1943) was an American drama critic and commentator for The New Yorker magazine, a member of the Algonquin Round Table, an occasional actor and playwright, and a prominent radio personality.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 8, 2018
"The Command Is Forward" is a different type of history book, made special because of the personal accounts of those who fought in the battles as well as recognizing the everyday bravery of others who were there. It is the intimacy of the stories that raises this book to another level. Some of these reprints from the Stars and Stripes are human interest stories centered around one individual, but even the stories detailing a battle find a way to identify different soldiers and include their personal contributions.
This is a different yet extremely enlightening way to learn about American soldiers in WWI. Five stars.
This is a different yet extremely enlightening way to learn about American soldiers in WWI. Five stars.
September 16, 2016
*Free copy for an honest review.
I knew I was reading a different kind of book when I saw the copyright date, 1918. That's the beauty of books and their ability to time travel. The Stars and Stripes was created with purpose of unifying American soldiers spread throughout the battlefront in Europe. It was considered to be a rounding success. After reading these stories, I can see why.
Every story recorded is incredibly inspiring, even those that are less than jovial. There are stories about the different roles that soldiers perform and how each one supports the other. From runners risking life and limb to pass messages to observation pilots getting shot in the air. From engineers building makeshift bridges to gunners forcing the enemy to flee. Almost every story in this collection is about the camaraderie. There are stories about men giving up their rations for the wounded. Stories about men in charge doing dangerous jobs because they wouldn't ask their men to risk their lives.
At the same time, there are also stories about French refugees returning home and rebuilding. About the reception they gave the soldiers who pushed back the German Army. The personal stories were just as moving as the group stories.
This book is not just for fans of history or World War II buffs. This is a book that people of almost all walks of life can be inspired by. Not necessarily inspired to join the armed forces, but inspired to view America in a new way. The way the final installment of The Stars and Stripes says the soldiers did when they were finally able to return home.
I knew I was reading a different kind of book when I saw the copyright date, 1918. That's the beauty of books and their ability to time travel. The Stars and Stripes was created with purpose of unifying American soldiers spread throughout the battlefront in Europe. It was considered to be a rounding success. After reading these stories, I can see why.
Every story recorded is incredibly inspiring, even those that are less than jovial. There are stories about the different roles that soldiers perform and how each one supports the other. From runners risking life and limb to pass messages to observation pilots getting shot in the air. From engineers building makeshift bridges to gunners forcing the enemy to flee. Almost every story in this collection is about the camaraderie. There are stories about men giving up their rations for the wounded. Stories about men in charge doing dangerous jobs because they wouldn't ask their men to risk their lives.
At the same time, there are also stories about French refugees returning home and rebuilding. About the reception they gave the soldiers who pushed back the German Army. The personal stories were just as moving as the group stories.
This book is not just for fans of history or World War II buffs. This is a book that people of almost all walks of life can be inspired by. Not necessarily inspired to join the armed forces, but inspired to view America in a new way. The way the final installment of The Stars and Stripes says the soldiers did when they were finally able to return home.
August 22, 2016
A fascinating collection of primary source material - first-hand articles published during WWI that don't deal with grand offensives and military strategy, but rather with the everyday life of common soldiers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews