America's "Foreign Legion": Immigrant Soldiers in the Great War

Immigrant American soldiers played an important, often underrated role in World War I. Those who were non-citizens had no obligation to participate in the war, though many volunteered. Due to language barriers that prevented them from receiving proper training, they were often given the most dangerous and dirty jobs.

The impetus for this book was the story of Matthew Guerra (the author's great-uncle). He immigrated to America from Italy around age 12. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1...