Yanks : A.E.F. verse

In the gritty trenches and makeshift barracks of the First World War, ordinary American soldiers turned to verse to capture the chaos, camaraderie, and longing that defined their daily lives. This collection gathers those poems as they first appeared in the Army’s own newspaper, offering a raw, unfiltered record of the feelings that flickered between fear and hope. The lines were scribbled on the backs of letters, pinned to bunk walls, and read aloud over campfires, creating a shared language of survival.

Readers will hear everything from wry humor about muddy meals to tender missives addressed to loved ones back home, and solemn reflections on the war‑torn landscapes of France. The anthology also reveals the deep sense of duty soldiers felt toward the French children left orphaned by the conflict, with proceeds originally intended for their care. Together, these verses form a vivid snapshot of the American Expeditionary Forces’ emotional world, a chorus of voices that still resonates today.