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His Time in Hell: A Texas Marine in France
Through the words of a man who lived it: the discomfort, hunger, and danger of life in the maelstrom of mortal combat.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 7, 2014
The solo brigade of Marines to fight in World War I was comprised of men from all sections of America. USMC Corporal Warren R. Jackson of Texas was aligned with the 95th Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Regiment, 4th Brigade in the 2nd Division. His memoir describes his training days at Paris Island and France, his active participation in all the major battles; Belleau Wood, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Blanc Mont, to Armistice followed by the Occupation of Germany and his return home. George B. Clark edited the book and provided a preface, introduction, synopsis for each chapter and footnotes.
Like most WWI memoirs Jackson’s first hand account provided some fresh historical information. In war one bonds with his rifle and Jackson cherished the 30 caliber Springfield 03’rifle he was issued at Paris Island. Between Soissons and St. Mihiel he lost this rifle and had to acquire another one. He estimated that fewer than a dozen Marines of the roughly 1,000 in the 6th Regiment had been able to maintain their original rifle. A Marine always carried 100 rounds of ammunition on his belt and it was common for an extra bandoleer to be issued before a battle. I was surprised that at Soissons, Jackson stated he was told to carry four bandoleers totaling 240 rounds crisscrossed on his shoulders. He said if an individual was caught lightening his load by reducing his ammunition he could face a court martial.
Many parts of the documentation seemed sanitized, but overall any first hand account is precious.
Like most WWI memoirs Jackson’s first hand account provided some fresh historical information. In war one bonds with his rifle and Jackson cherished the 30 caliber Springfield 03’rifle he was issued at Paris Island. Between Soissons and St. Mihiel he lost this rifle and had to acquire another one. He estimated that fewer than a dozen Marines of the roughly 1,000 in the 6th Regiment had been able to maintain their original rifle. A Marine always carried 100 rounds of ammunition on his belt and it was common for an extra bandoleer to be issued before a battle. I was surprised that at Soissons, Jackson stated he was told to carry four bandoleers totaling 240 rounds crisscrossed on his shoulders. He said if an individual was caught lightening his load by reducing his ammunition he could face a court martial.
Many parts of the documentation seemed sanitized, but overall any first hand account is precious.
October 15, 2007
So far I'd say it is an interesting look into what a vet of WWI thought about the war 10 years after fighting in it. It is a mystery as to who the writer really was, but very apparent he was a good soldier, though modest in his writing.
I don't know if it was taboo to write graphically about combat or if the man didn't want to relive that, but he doesn't actually describe fighting. He mostly describes the smells, the discipline, the living conditions, and the bombardments. In fact, if you want a good feeling of the terror of being on the receiving end of artillery fire, this is the book.
Also interesting is his fascination with air warfare. Naturally planes were still a novelty back then.
I don't know if it was taboo to write graphically about combat or if the man didn't want to relive that, but he doesn't actually describe fighting. He mostly describes the smells, the discipline, the living conditions, and the bombardments. In fact, if you want a good feeling of the terror of being on the receiving end of artillery fire, this is the book.
Also interesting is his fascination with air warfare. Naturally planes were still a novelty back then.
March 8, 2024
Most memoirs of the world wars are by those who went on to fame or did something remarkable in the war. This memoir of a soldier of the Great War is remarkable because the soldier, Warren R. Jackson, was just a regular soldier, a Marine, one who albeit served in the front lines longer than usual and survived to tell about it.
Many memoirs about World War I were published in the 1920s and 1930s; this account, while apparently written in the 1920s was never published by the author and was rediscovered in manuscript form by Marine Corps historian George Clark in the late 1990s in an history archive at the University of Texas. Despite some digging by Mr. Clark he was unable to discover much of anything about Mr. Jackson other than coming that he did indeed serve in the Marines during World War I exactly as described in his account.
What makes this book so interesting, informative and useful to the Great War historian is the fact that Mr. Jackson was just a regular soldier. He doesn't try to present his account as heroic, often relates being scared and provides intimate details no professional historian no matter how studied and learned could ever write.
Mr. Jackson served from Verdun to the end at the Muesse-Argonne, and one of the most poignant parts of his narrative is the little by little explanation that he was one of just a handful who made it through that long, not killed or horribly wounded. His matter of fact accounts ring honest and true and his writing although occassionally unclear or mangled, makes you feel like you were there.
It's unclear how much the editor edited the manuscript, but I get the feeling not very much. In some places he provides helpful clarifications but that's about it. I wonder if in the current information age of the internet and Ancestry.com if any more can be learned about Warren Jackson, or maybe it's simply better leaving his account to speak for itself. A worthwhile and fascinating read for anyone interested in the American front line experience of World War I.
Many memoirs about World War I were published in the 1920s and 1930s; this account, while apparently written in the 1920s was never published by the author and was rediscovered in manuscript form by Marine Corps historian George Clark in the late 1990s in an history archive at the University of Texas. Despite some digging by Mr. Clark he was unable to discover much of anything about Mr. Jackson other than coming that he did indeed serve in the Marines during World War I exactly as described in his account.
What makes this book so interesting, informative and useful to the Great War historian is the fact that Mr. Jackson was just a regular soldier. He doesn't try to present his account as heroic, often relates being scared and provides intimate details no professional historian no matter how studied and learned could ever write.
Mr. Jackson served from Verdun to the end at the Muesse-Argonne, and one of the most poignant parts of his narrative is the little by little explanation that he was one of just a handful who made it through that long, not killed or horribly wounded. His matter of fact accounts ring honest and true and his writing although occassionally unclear or mangled, makes you feel like you were there.
It's unclear how much the editor edited the manuscript, but I get the feeling not very much. In some places he provides helpful clarifications but that's about it. I wonder if in the current information age of the internet and Ancestry.com if any more can be learned about Warren Jackson, or maybe it's simply better leaving his account to speak for itself. A worthwhile and fascinating read for anyone interested in the American front line experience of World War I.
February 10, 2017
If you are interested in the experience of an American Marine in WWI this is the book for you. Based on his diaries the account covers his experience from induction to discharge. The narrative tends to repetition with numerous experiences of shelling and near misses. Jackson was a survivor!
November 16, 2016
his time in helll was a great book it tell of a story of a man who was in world war 1 and his time during it. it taght me alot about the war and what they had to go through during the time. it was one of the best book i have read so far.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews