5184. Over There The United States in the Great War 1917-1918, by Byron Farwell (read 25 Jul 2014) This is the fourth book by Farwell I have read. The other three were on subjects related to Britain, and I think I thought he was British but he was born in Iowa and died 3 Aug 1999 in Virginia. This book is not scholarly but has lots of interesting things in it, even though it tells of battles in much detail filled with names of people who did great deeds--leading one to think he hopes their descendants will buy his book even if not many others will. I read John Eisenhower's book on the same subject on 17 Aug 2002, and this book is less hesitant to criticize American generals than was John Eisenhower--which I suppose should not surprise me. One can't help but take some satisfaction in the way Pershing stood up against Allied generals who thought Pershing should give them American soldiers rather than that American generals should command American troops. Farwell shows pretty clearly that FDR's insistance on unconditional surrender in World War II had much to commend itself, since clearly the German Army did not consider itself to have lost in World War One. ( )

This is not an extremely in depth look at our involvement in the first World War. What it is, is an expansive look at the whole picture from the pre-war politics, the buildup, involvement, occupation, and also the war in Russia is briefly noted. Also has a chapter on, which I found interesting because I hadn't heard much on before, Venereal Disease and Pershings attempt at zero tolerance for it. The writing style is easy and keeps you interested in the subject. A worthy addition for a refresher on the American involvement in the war or as a way to gently get involved in the history of the war itself. ( )