Fix bayonets!

Amid the mud‑laden trenches of Champagne in the spring of 1918, a battered Marine battalion endures relentless artillery as they brace for the next push toward the Marne. The narrator introduces the eclectic group of “Leathernecks”—farmers, lumberjacks, scholars, and sailors—each bringing a distinct voice to the shared hardship of front‑line life. Their daily routine of hastily dug foxholes, flickering flares, and strained camaraderie paints a vivid picture of war’s gritty reality.

In this candid memoir, the author blends stark battlefield description with moments of dark humor and quiet reflection, revealing how the Marines’ fierce pride and diverse backgrounds forge an unbreakable esprit de corps. Listeners will hear stories of makeshift hospitals, French stretcher‑bearers, and the early clashes that set the tone for the grueling months ahead. The first act offers an intimate glimpse into the human side of a legendary regiment before the larger conflicts unfold.