World War 1 Soldier Paper Essay Sample

Analysis of the function played by American military personnels in the Second Battle of the Marne and subsequent battles with the Germans *
Although US military personnels assumed chiefly a support function in this action. the conflict came to be known as the beginning of the terminal for Germany. 85. 000 US military personnels participated. with 12. 000 casualties. deriving the congratulations of non merely their ain officers. but the Gallic and British commanding officers every bit good. “During this clip a individual regiment of the 3rd Division rewrote one of the most aglow pages in our military history. it prevented the crossing at certain points on its forepart. while on either wing the Germans who had gained a terms pressed frontward ( Duffy. 2009 ) .

Our work forces. fire in three subdivisions. met the German onslaughts with counter-attacks at critical points and succeeded in throwing two German divisions into complete confusion. capturing 600 ( Duffy. 2009 ) . This last quotation mark summarizes American military engagement in World War I. In the “soup of death” that France had become. no secret arm. technological progress. political maneuvering or huffy offense could hold replaced fresh military personnels used in bold actions along the Allied lines. US engagement non merely changed the face of the war. but helped convey it to an terminal on November 11. 1918 ( Duffy. 2009 ) . * Discussion of arms used by soldiers in World War I. including but non limited to bayonets. flamethrowers. machine guns. handguns. mustard gas. rifles. armored combat vehicles and trench howitzers *

The US Troops utilized many different types of arms including the standard bayonet knife which served both as a public-service corporation tool and close combat arm. Military officers and NCOs were issued 45 caliber Colts. although some aviators had six-guns. The M-1 Garand semi-auto rifle was the most prevailing arm. Many NCOs and squad leaders carried the Thompson SMG. The most common version ( issued from 1942 on ) was non like the Chicago piano from mobster films. The forward manus clasp had been removed. plus a wooden stock had been added around the barrel. This would accept either 20- or 30-round stick magazines. Early war ( M1928 ) Thompsons besides accepted 50. 100. or 200 circular membranophone magazines. Each squad was besides to hold a BAR ( Browning automatic rifle ) . This arm was large but was a to the full automatic arm that could put down suppressive fire. It had some serious halting power. In add-on to this. there was the fire throwster. which saw more action in the Pacific theatre. Hand grenades were another arm issued to battle military personnels. Besides when assailing sand traps or other fixed emplacements. they would satchel charges. 30 and. 50 quality MG squads ( 2-3 work forces: 1 firer. 1-2 loaders/carriers ) might be attached to plunder platoons as needed. along with the howitzer squads. As for other points. some military mans would utilize enemy arms. but most gathered these ( and merely about anything else that was non riveted down ) as trophies. *

* Discussion of the soldier’s experience. including but non limited to contending in the trenches. the odor. ennui. lice. rats. nutrient. common hurts. and battlefield battle

Many former soldiers of World War 1 pronounce the experience every bit snake pit on Earth. The ambiance was a changeless odor of firing flesh. dead animate beings. and flourishing heavy weapon. Animal and human waste assorted with pungent odor of the high explosive heavy weapon shells. Many soldiers descried the fume as acquiring closer to the fume of decease. The trenches were so uncomfortable and normally partly flooded with clay and H2O. The trenches were besides plagued with lice and rats. rats that frequently grew to the size of cats banqueting off of the plentiful cadavers that lay around ( ) . Food was scarce and barely appetizing imbibing H2O frequently had to be transported in used fuel tins and though they were cleaned exhaustively they still tainted the water’s gustatory sensation. Many soldiers enduring from shell-shock or station traumatic emphasis upset were executed every bit cowards as the mental upset had non yet recognized by the medical community ( ) . In the context of World War I. leading meant non merely shouting “Follow me! ” leaping out of a trench and bear downing across no-man’s-land while swearing your subsidiaries to follow you ( “Army Leadership” . 2007 ) .

A whole host of actions and inactivities by leaders went into constructing the trust of subsidiaries so that they would follow you. These actions included such things as preparation. guaranting the wellness and public assistance of your soldiers by doing certain they were fed. they got to the trefoils when necessary. they had sufficient remainder clip. that weariness inside informations were apportioned reasonably. that mail was distributed every bit shortly as received. that leaders led by illustration. and most significantly that they were treated reasonably in disciplinary affairs ( “Army Leadership” . 2007 ) . Nothing will destruct a units morale faster that if they see freakish disposal of subject. The basic. and easiest. portion of guaranting subsidiaries public assistance is the provisioning “beans and bullets” in ground forces slang. The 2nd and hardest portion of military leading is the preparation portion and taking by illustration. Training means guaranting that your unit. of whatever size. has mastered their battleground undertakings. This frequently causes bitching and ailments prior to existent conflict and are non something soldiers appreciate until they are in existent conflict. This preparation should be every bit realistic as possible and if possible. even more physically demanding than existent combat itself.

For the fanciful sergeant of World War I this would include guaranting that his soldiers were able to progress in unfastened order towards the enemy trench line. glade that trench one time they got at that place. consolidating captured places and either farther advancing or fixing the captured place to drive the inevitable German countermove. Last but non least. all soldiers should be able to administrate first assistance and fix their companions for emptying in the event they were wounded themselves. The importance of first assistance and emptying preparation can non be emphasized plenty because this Lashkar-e-Taiba soldiers know that they are valued even if it is non explicitly stated. Leading by illustration is both the easiest and hardest thing to make. It entails such things as guaranting your work forces eat before you do. but besides non inquiring them to make anything you will non make. The whole construct of leading is being at the forepart. World War I was likely the last war where that had actual significance. and leaders were really the first over the top and showed this by taking the manner. A physical illustration of Aristotle’s words from The Nicomachean Ethics. “we become brave by making courageous Acts of the Apostless. ” Leading the manner helped guarantee that your soldiers would follow.

Mentions

Army Leadership. ( 2007 ) . Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //armypubs. ground forces. mil/epubs/pdf/R600_100. PDF Aristotle. The Nicomachean
Ethical motives. 2. 1
Thompson & A ; Bigwood. . ( 2006 ) . Wining a Cause World War Stories. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. Gutenberg. org/files/19906/19906-8. txt Duffy. M. ( 2009 ) . Primary Documents – General John J Pershing on the Second Battle of the Marne. July-August 1918. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. firstworldwar. com/source/marne2_pershing. htm