America's "Foreign Legion": Immigrant Soldiers in the Great War

Provides an account detailing the important part played by immigrant soldiers in the First World War. The book centres on the author’s Great Uncle Matthew Guerra, who emigrated to America from, Italy, at approximately age 12.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 195 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2018
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

Immigrant soldiers played a crucial role in the First World War, making invaluable contributions to the eventual Allied victory. The story revolves around my Great Uncle Matthew Guerra, who immigrated to America from Monte Sant Angelo, Italy, at the age of 12. He joined his sister Lucia (my grandmother) and her husband Antonio Palumbo in Worcester, MA, where he attended a school for recent immigrants. At around age 20 or 21, Matthew moved to the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he found employment at the Remington Arms/Union Metallic Cartridge Company (U.M.C.). Remington was a major manufacturer of cartridge ammunition for the war.

Guerra was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1918 and completed his basic training at Camp Devens in Ayer, MA, before shipping out overseas to France. He joined the 58th Infantry Regiment of the 4th "Ivy" Division and participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne Offensives. On October 4, 1918, while fighting in the Bois de Fays (woods), Matthew was wounded by shrapnel and passed away in a field hospital on the 7th due to complications from uncontrolled infection. He was 22 years old. Due to communication difficulties, the family was unable to contact him, and he was laid to rest in the Meuse Argonne American Cemetery in France.

Immigrant soldiers like Matthew Guerra made significant sacrifices and contributions to the war effort, demonstrating their bravery and dedication to their new country. Their contributions were vital in ensuring the Allied victory and honoring their memory is essential to our understanding of the war's history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476675435