Through the Wheat

U.S. Marine participation in World War I is known as a defining moment in the Marine Corps’ great history. It is a story of exceptional heroism and significant operational achievements, along with some lessons learned the hard way. Two Marines, well known for their achievements both in uniform and with the pen, have recorded this rich history in a way that only insiders can. Brig. Gen. Edwin H. Simmons and Col. Joseph H. Alexander recount events in telling detail, capturing the spirit that earned World War I Marines the sobriquet“Devil Dogs,” while providing a substantial examination of combat. Names like Belleau Wood, Soissons, and St. Mihiel resonate today, nearly a century later, and the authors leave no doubt as to why. Here, hand-to-hand combat seen through the lenses of a gas mask is accompanied by cogent analysis and thought-provoking assessments of the war and its impact on the Marine Corps. In homage to the Marine experience under fire, the authors have given their work the same title as the famous World War I novel by Thomas Boyd, who came home from the war with a Croix de Guerre and a desire to write. Uncompromising in its coverage, this book will appeal to veterans and neophytes alike.