A Soldier in World War I: The Diary of Elmer W. Sherwood"In April 1917 a sophomore from Indiana University, inspired by the stories of his grandfather's service in the Union army during the Civil War, left school and enlisted with a National Guard unit in Indianapolis that became the 150th Field Artillery Regiment. Before long the young man, Elmer W. Sherwood, found himself in the thick of fighting in France, as his artillery regiment served in combat with the 42nd (Rainbow) Division, including the horrendous Meuse-Argonne offensive that claimed 26,000 American lives. Sherwood, who describes himself as the Rainbow Hoosier, kept a diary of his time overseas, including his experiences in the army of occupation following the war's end. Published by the Indiana Historical Society Press and edited by Robert H. Ferrell, Indiana University distinguished professor of history emeritus, A soldier in World War I: the diary of Elmer W. Sherwood, captures the words of the Hoosier soldier as he wrote them on the front lines. Corporal Sherwood tells of the hard existence of life in the trenches, including the endless mud that sometimes trapped unwary soldiers for hours at a time and the wretched food he had to eat for nourishment. The book also includes a shipboard diary Sherwood sent home from France shortly after his arrival, which appeared in his hometown newspaper, and his tale of his unauthorized trip to Paris at the war's end prompted by a challenge from a pretty female Red Cross canteen worker"--Jacket. |
Contents
Over There August 1917February 1918 | 1 |
Lunéville Sector FebruaryMarch 1918 | 17 |
Baccarat MarchJune 1918 | 29 |
Copyright | |
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A Soldier in World War I: The Diary of Elmer W. Sherwood Elmer W. Sherwood,Robert H. Ferrell Limited preview - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
150th Field Artillery afternoon Ahrweiler Allied American Annecy areoplane arrived Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler Ball State University band battalion battery battle billets Boche boys brigade bunks camp Carlisle Barracks Chamonix Coblenz Coëtquidan command cooties course detail drill dugout Elmer fellows Ferdinand Foch fighting fire Forty-second Division France French Fritz front Geelhoed German going guard hard tack hike hill horses Huns Indiana Indianapolis infantry inspection JULY kilos last night leave Lieut Linton look machine gun Menoher mess miles morning moved National Archives Neuenahr officers outfit Paris passed Pershing picket line plane position pulled Rainbow Division rained regiment Rhine road Rosport Saeul SEPT shells Sherwood sleep soldiers station streets things thru told tonight took town train troops trucks Tyndall U.S. Army wagon walked wood wounded YMCA