Julius Holthaus, a humble American farm boy, sailed to France to help fill the depleted ranks of the Allies during America's largest battle of World War I and one of the bloodiest battles in military history, the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. He had no idea what he was getting into. The fight would involve more than a million American doughboys, span 47 days, and result in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers.
Countless books focus on great military leaders, famous war heroes, and remarkable battle tactics, but one must look at war on a smaller scale to truly understand its toll. That understanding comes through examining the life and diary of Holthaus. The author explores these in great detail, supplementing the diary's information with the insights he gleaned through thirteen years of research. This history follows a single soldier from rural Iowa and Idaho, through his enlistment, training, and final trauma in the dark, shell-pocked Argonne Forest.
Filled with facts and historical anecdotes, this could be the story of many members of the American Expeditionary Forces sent overseas during World War I. Their names are not listed in the history books, but they all answered their country's call and should be remembered for their acts of heroism and bravery.