-
-
WWI presumably started after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. This lead to war with Serbia. Aus-Hun was eventually joined by Germany, which began to suck other nations into the war. The US was one of the last countries to enter the war.
-
-
Part of the reason the US declared war on Germany was the fat the Germany was attacking ships with Americans on board. Another reason for this was the unrestricted use of submarines.
-
Kohls was only 15 years of age when he enlisted in the army, telling recruiters that he was 22. He spent most of his time on the battlefields in France.
-
Kohls was one of the troops from the US that was to land in France in June of 1917. He, like many other soldiers, spent 14 days at sea. Some men were reported to be sick.
-
Kohls registered at the Jefferson barracks in Missouri. After a 14 day trip, he landed in France. He explained he'd rather be home than training in France. His first few days of training, he reported his souls being worn off and his clothes being torn. He was in reserve for 10 days before being forced to wade through snow and wet trenches.
-
They stayed in mud holes for almost a week without seeing anyone from the German side. According to him, they were low on food and they were constantly wet. After regrouping, they went to a different trench with conditions that were just as bad. The Germans threw barrage at them every now and again.
-
Kohls noticed he could only whisper, so when speaking to a medical professional, he was told he had been gassed and he needed to recover. He'd been in recovery for 3 weeks and nothing changed. He got drunk one night and it gave him the ability to whisper at the most. At that point, he was sent back to the battlefield.
-
Kohls and other troops hat to walk up steep hills to get to their battalion, which was currently in reserve. He stated that around midnight, it began raining and some men fell, while others swore. When they got to where they were going, dead and wounded were everywhere. Kohls was called on to bring back 60 of their German prisoners.
-
While under fire, Kohls recalled getting his "first taste of steel". He laid on the ground, reportedly not far from president Roosevelt's son. That night, he was carried off to the hospital by train. It took several days for them to get him to a hospital in France.
-
-
This date marks the end of WWI.
-
-
