Average Americans

In Short

Written by the former president's son, Average Americans chronicles Theodore Roosevelt Jr.'s trajectory from a boyhood steeped in civic duty to his service as an infantry officer in France. He details the formation of the First Division, the grueling reality of trench warfare, and the decisive Allied counteroffensives. Part war memoir and part political thesis, the book contrasts the Quiet courage and resilience of front-line doughboys with the dangerous bureaucratic blunders of the national administration. It has endured as an authentic portrait of American citizen-soldiers rising to meet a historic crisis despite systemic official neglect.

The Story

The narrative opens with Roosevelt reflecting on his childhood at Oyster Bay, where his father raised his children to treat public service and physical readiness as moral obligations. When the United States enters the First World War, the author and his three brothers immediately volunteer. Roosevelt finds himself thrown into the administrative chaos of a nation unprepared for global conflict. The military hastily pieces together the First Division from a mix of regulars, marines, and untrained recruits, sending them to Europe with minimal equipment and inadequate training.

Upon arriving in France, Roosevelt takes command of an infantry battalion. He captures the absurdities and charm of the early training period as American officers attempt to learn French customs, navigate local billeting, and handle the endless complaints of villagers regarding stolen rabbits and restless livestock. As the battalion adjusts to the rhythms of daily drill, trench raids, and the ubiquitous pestilence of lice, the tone shifts from lighthearted friction to serious military preparation.

By the spring of 1918, the Germans launch a massive offensive, breaking through Allied lines. Roosevelt's unit is rushed to the front to stem the drive. He recounts the horrors of heavy artillery, botched raids caused by misdirected shellfire, and the physical strain of trench warfare. The narrative reaches its tactical climax during the counter-offensive at Soissons, where troops endure sleepless marches through mud and rain to launch a surprise attack against enemy positions. The First Division proves its mettle in intense combat, later taking part in the reduction of the St. Mihiel salient and the brutal pushing action of the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

Following the armistice, Roosevelt marches his battalion into victory celebrations across liberated towns. As the troops are greeted with flowers and homemade flags, he reflects on the debt owed to the ordinary men who bore the brunt of the fighting. He concludes with a sharp, impassioned argument against isolationism and military neglect, warning that America must never again send its citizens into battle unprepared.

How It Unfolds

Lessons at Oyster Bay The author outlines his upbringing under his father’s guidance, emphasizing outdoor endurance, military history, and the absolute requirement to serve one's country when called.

The chaotic mobilization Roosevelt arrives in France with the hastily assembled First Division, revealing how poorly equipped and undertrained the American forces are at the outset of the war.

Learning French ways Stationed in rural French villages, the battalion attempts to master military maneuvers while navigating local etiquette, language barriers, and peasant claims over missing livestock.

Trial under fire The battalion enters the front lines, facing artillery bombardments, failed night raids in the dark, and the frustrating administrative demands of higher headquarters.

Stemming the offensive Rushed into the path of the German advance near Montdidier, the doughboys transition from trench defense to open, fluid combat against a determined enemy.

The turn of the tide Roosevelt leads his men through the torrential rain and mud of Soissons to execute a surprise counter-offensive that reshapes the Allied strategy.

The final drives and victory After taking part in the St. Mihiel operation, the division fights through the dense Argonne forest, eventually marching triumphantly through cheering French towns toward the end of the conflict.

The People

• Theodore Roosevelt Jr. serves as the central figure and narrator. He wants to fulfill his civic duty as an infantry officer and lead his men effectively, but he constantly faces the obstacles of poor army organization, inadequate supplies, and the lethal hazards of the front. Through combat, he evolves from an inexperienced officer into a battle-tested leader devoted to the welfare of his soldiers.
• Theodore Roosevelt Sr. appears through memory and letters as the moral touchstone of the book. He wants his sons to live honorably and his country to remain strong, standing firmly against pacifism and political incompetence. His letters sustain his sons through the conflict until his death.
• The doughboys of the 26th Infantry represent the collective strength of the nation. These regular men want only to do their duty and return home, surviving heavy casualties and rough conditions to become a formidable fighting force.

In Its Own Voice

"I would much rather explain why I went to the war than why I did not."

The elder Roosevelt offers this advice to his son when deciding to volunteer for service despite political opposition.

"There was once a guy who decided to commit suicide by hanging himself. Just about the time he done a good job of it the rope broke. He was sitting up on the floor afterward when I came in, a-rubbing his neck, and when he saw me, all he said was, 'Gee, but that was dangerous.'"

Sergeant Yarborough cracks this joke in a shell hole while machine-gun bullets fly past after a night raid goes awry.

"My pride in the actions of the rank and file of the country is offset only by my shame at being represented in the world by the present administration."

Reflecting on the war's conclusion, Roosevelt contrasts the heroism of common soldiers with his disappointment in national leadership.

What It's Really About

The book is fundamentally an argument for universal preparedness and civic obligation. Beneath the operational details of infantry tactics lies a sharp condemnation of political leadership that sends untrained citizens into battle. Roosevelt uses his front-line experiences to demonstrate that the bravery of individual soldiers cannot fully compensate for systemic neglect. He explores the relationship between democratic society and military readiness, contending that true patriotism requires foresight, physical discipline, and a willingness to share in national defense. The narrative poses enduring questions about how a free republic should prepare its people for the realities of global conflict without sacrificing its core values.

Why Read It Today

Average Americans offers a direct, unpretentious view of the First World War through the eyes of a field officer who walked the mud alongside his men. Readers who enjoy military history will appreciate its candid, grounded descriptions of command at the battalion level, free from romanticized bravado. The writing carries a striking immediacy; Roosevelt moves smoothly from dry humor regarding army bureaucracy to sharp observations on the human cost of combat.

The work does reflect the political friction and strong nationalistic biases of 1919, particularly in its open hostility toward the Wilson administration and pacifist movements. Modern readers may find its political commentary opinionated, but these elements provide an authentic window into the debates consuming post-war America. It remains a deeply human record of citizen-soldiers fighting under difficult circumstances.