Overview

"Sometimes gritty and graphic, sometimes humorous and insightful, ""A Frenchman's Duty"" chronicles Arthur's true story of four-years as a French foot soldier and cook on the Western Front during World War I. Transcribed and translated from Arthur's hand-scripted journal, illustrated with 44 one-hundred-year old color postcards, maps, and photos, then annotated with historic context and more than a century of military and political perspective, this book is a must read for anyone wishing to truly understand World War I, a ""war to end all wars."" In his own words, Arthur describes his induction and training as a foot soldier, then his first introduction to battle. He describes his experiences at Verdun, in the Marne and Somme, and in Belgium. His journal entries about cooking for his officers and comrades; going ""over the top"" in terrifying charges; and being lost in enemy trenches and on the battlefield in the fog with pack mules in his charge, give accounts of battles not found in any other biography or history book about the war. Arthur details the quieter sides of the war, too: rotations out of the trenches, interactions with civilians required to put him up for the night, his ""permissions,"" or leaves to see family and friends. He gives a face to the personal side of a soldiers life, in and out of battle, something still so relevant today. Arthur was the author's grandfather and godfather, so the book is not one of those tales where the hero dies in the end. Rather, it is a testament to the resilience in the face of hopeless odds, to life after PTSD, faith, and patriotic sacrifice beyond full understanding. Set during a time of terrible destruction, ""A Frenchman's Duty"" is nevertheless, an uplifting book about perseverance and its rewards."

Full Product Details

9781088024287

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Reviews

"5 Stars on Goodreads! ""A fascinating look into an average foot soldier's life thru 4 years of WWI Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2019: 'Frenchman's Duty' follows one foot soldier's day-to-day life across 4 years of WWI as chronicled in his diary. Not only does the book transcribe and translate entries from the soldier's diary, the author adds helpful illustrations, maps, photographs, and historical context to expand upon the soldier's own personal writings and to create a insightful story of an ordinary man's experience. It is a very real tale of survival, patriotism, personal bonds, and dedication during the relentless, senseless, and seemingly endless troop movements, rotating assignments, and destruction that was WWI trench warfare."""

Author Information

J. Michael Dumoulin is a 30-year Air Force veteran; a NASA retiree; former museum strategic initiatives director; and an author/illustrator. He is an award-winning communicator, a writer, and exhibit designer. Colonel Dumoulin earned a B.A. in Commercial Art at Florida State and an Advertising B.S. at the University of Florida. He was awarded a Masters in Public Communications from Boston University and holds a post-Masters certificate in National Strategy from the Air Force's Air University.

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