Kelly of the Foreign Legion: Letters of Légionnaire Russell A. Kelly

In this intimate collection, a 21‑year‑old American volunteer writes home from the front lines of the French Foreign Legion. His letters, first published in a New York newspaper, convey the raw experience of boarding a cramped cargo ship bound for Bordeaux, the chaos of multilingual crew members, relentless seas, and the grueling care of hundreds of horses. He describes the cramped quarters, meager meals, and the physical toll of the voyage, while also offering candid observations about the cultural tensions among his fellow travelers.

The volume also includes a concise historical sketch of the Legion, outlining the legal ambiguities faced by American citizens who fought under a foreign flag. After his last postcard in June 1915, the young soldier is recorded as missing, leaving his family and readers with a poignant glimpse of wartime uncertainty. Listeners gain a vivid, personal window into a pivotal moment in history, filtered through the eyes of a brave, determined young man far from home.