The unknowns: the untold story of America's unknown soldier and WWI's most decorated heroes who brought him home

Description

"The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is sacred ground at Arlington National Cemetery. Originally constructed in 1921 to hold one of the thousands of unidentified American soldiers lost in World War I, it now also contains unknowns from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and receives millions of visitors each year who pay silent tribute. When the first Unknown Soldier was laid to rest in Arlington, General John Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Force in WWI, seleted eight of America's most decorated, battle-hardened veterans to serve as Body Bearers. For the first time O'Donnell portrays their heroics on the battlefield one hundred years ago, thereby animating the Tomb by giving voice to all who have served. The Body Bearers appropriately spanned America's service branches and specialties ... Their stories slip easily into the larger narrative of America's involvement in the conflict, transporting readers into the midst of dramatic battles during 1917-1918 that ultimately decided the Great War ... Patrick O'Donnell illuminates the saga behind the creation of the Tomb itself and recreates the moving ceremony during which it was consecrated and the eight Body Bearers, and the sergeant who had chosen the one body to be interred, solemnly united."--Provided by publisher.;I: America goes to war, 1917. Getting over there ; The Kaiser's killing machine ; James Delaney and the SS Campana ; Q ships and depth charges: Das Boot -- II: Buildup, 1917-1918. Pershing and the AEF ; Ernest August Janson: first to fight ; Trench warfare -- III: Defending Paris, 1918. Belleau Wood ; Hill 142 ; "The Marines are fighting like Trojans" ; Edward Younger: Vaux -- IV: Counteroffensive, 1918. Turning point: Soissons -- V: By sea, 1918. Charles Leo O'Connor: USS Mount Vernon ; James Delaney: Brandenberg -- VI: Offensive, 1918. St: Mihiel ; Thomas Daniel Saunders: breaching the wire ; The skies above and victory ; "A natural fortress ... beside which the wilderness in which Grant fought Lee was a park": the Meuse-Argonne ; Harry Taylor and the Wild West Division ; The charge of the Light Brigade at Gesnes ; Mission impossible: Blanc Mont Ridge ; Woodfill of the Regulars ; "I got a few" ; Louis Razga: the big guns -- VII: The final battles and coming home. The final push ; The bridge ; Occupation -- VIII: America's unknown soldier. The unknown ; Coming home -- Afterword: the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.