by Hilmar R.
About this book
"I Was There" with the Yanks on the Western Front, 1917-1919 by C. LeRoy Baldridge is a rare firsthand account of American soldiers during World War I, brought to vivid life through intimate sketches and compelling poetry.
Baldridge served as both a camion driver with the French army and an infantry private for the American Expeditionary Forces, documenting his experiences across the Western Front from the French push of 1917 through the final offensives in the Argonne and Belgium. Originally published in 1919, this historical war narrative captures the daily reality of doughboy life—the camaraderie, suffering, and humanity amid the stupor of conflict. His sketches, which first appeared in The Stars and Stripes, Leslie's Weekly, and Scribner's Magazine, portray authentic soldier types and the French civilians who stood alongside American troops.
Complementing Baldridge's visual storytelling, fellow Private Hilmar R. Baukhage contributes evocative verses that deepen the emotional resonance of combat experience. Together, these artistic and poetic elements create a powerful testimonial to the Great Adventure, as soldiers called it—though one tempered by honest acknowledgment of war's horror.
Perfect for history enthusiasts, World War I researchers, and anyone seeking authentic soldier perspectives from the trenches, this audiobook offers an unfiltered window into the lives of men who shaped modern history.
