The Diary of a Soldier

About the Book

The Diary of a Soldier recounts the World War I experiences of U.S. Army Sergeant Major L. Louis Lee from the day of his embarkation to France in April 1918 to the day his troop ship docked in New York the following February.

Alternately inspiring, introspective, droll, and chilling, the Diary was written in a time and place far from the 21st century. Patriotism was more innocent. Communication with supporters at home could take weeks or months. Daily life was elemental.

Yet common themes in the Diary bind the World War I years to today: the horror of war, the way soldiers cope with severe physical and mental stress, and the anchor provided by home, family and friends. The Diary of a Soldier offers a unique portrayal of one man’s daily experiences in his era’s “war to end all wars.”

About the Author

L. Louis Lee was born in Boston in 1888, the son of a soldier who served in the Crimean War and the American Civil War. He joined the U.S. Army at an early age and participated in both World War I and World War II. Retiring from the Army with the rank of Major, he died in 1980.