Honoring the Doughboys: Following My Grandfather's World War I Diary

Jeff Lowdermilk's passion for World War I and of military history began as a lad when he listened to his grandfather, George A. Carlson, tell his life's stories about serving as a 'doughboy' in Europe during the Great War. When his grandfather passed away in 1982, his mother gave to Jeff her father' [...]
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Jeff Lowdermilk's passion for World War I and of military history began as a lad when he listened to his grandfather, George A. Carlson, tell his life's stories about serving as a 'doughboy' in Europe during the Great War. When his grandfather passed away in 1982, his mother gave to Jeff her father's amazing diary, which included not only lengthy descriptions of the landscapes, towns, and battles he experienced, but also heartfelt observations and insights about what life as a soldier on the road and in battle and in the trenches meant to all of Mr. Carlson's buddies. Thus began Jeff Lowdermilk's life-long quest to tell his grandfather's story.As one can imagine, the young Lowdermilk became fascinated with the diary and how long and detailed it was. He transcribed it and then plotted his grandfather's path through France, Belgium, and Germany as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. And he immersed himself in the history of the Great War and in the geography of the places where his grandfather and other doughboys walked and fought. He also dedicated himself to becoming a first-rate photographer, and thus his career path as a writer and photographer and lecturer of World War I and II was securely in place."Honoring the Doughboys: Following My Grandfather's World War I Diary" is a unforgettable tribute to all the doughboys, the foot soldiers, who served during World War I. Integrating passages from his grandfather's diary with his own anecdotes and photographic survey of the places his grandfather traveled and fought over, Lowdermilk has composed an enduring compilation of how the reality of battle and of war can be reconciled through commemoration and memorialization and even a pilgrimage such as his, in which he walked and drove thousands of kilometers during many decades retracing his grandfather's journey.This book provides a rich visual and historic tour of Europe's landscapes, towns, battlefields, memorials, cemeteries, and monuments of World War I. And it offers the reader that rare chance to share in the experience of thousands of America's doughboys who, like Mr. Carlson, gave it their all in the fight to keep Europe free of tyranny and oppression. Jeff Lowdermilk has done the nation a real favor with his moving expression of gratitude to American veterans of World War I. And Helen Patton, granddaughter of General George S. Patton, Jr., adds her voice of appreciation for Jeff Lowdermilk's effort in her heartfelt foreword."** Nominated for a 2015 IPPY Award" from the Independent Publishers Association **"Upcoming Author Events Tattered Cover Colfax Ave. - Main Store February 17, 2015 at 7 PMMissouri History Museum St. Louis, MO April 26 & 25, 2015 at 1 PM