The Stars and Stripes, Vol. 1, No. 1, February 8, 1918: The American Soldiers' Newspaper of World War I, 1918-1919

In Short

This inaugural issue of the official military newspaper for the American Expeditionary Forces captures the everyday reality, humor, and logistical vastness of American troops arriving in France in early 1918. Through official commands, satirical glossaries, trench poetry, front-line reports, and local advertisements, it charts the transition of civilian recruits into a unified overseas military force. The issue endures as a vivid historical snapshot, preserving the unscripted voice of common soldiers—their complaints about cold weather and bad coffee, their resilience, and their sheer determination—at a pivot point in world history.

The Story

The issue opens with a direct address from General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces, who establishes the newspaper's purpose: to serve as an authentic voice for the troops stationed across France, from the front-line trenches to the coastal base ports. Pershing emphasizes the historic duty assigned to this first contingent of American soldiers fighting on European soil, setting an official tone of resolve that frames the publication.

Following this high-level endorsement, the narrative shifts immediately to the practical realities of army life. Front-page dispatches clarify confusing military leave policies, detailing how soldiers will be rotated through specific geographic "leave zones"—beginning with the department of Savoy—to ensure every man receives equal rest and an opportunity to explore France. Darker realities of the conflict emerge alongside these administrative details, including a grim report based on a sworn statement from a repatriated Frenchman regarding the harsh treatment, starvation, and public humiliation endured by captured American prisoners at the hands of German forces in Charleville.

As the newspaper unfolds, it documents the immense industrial and logistical effort underpinning the military campaign. Extensive construction projects, massive supply depots, and newly laid telegraph networks labeled "U. S. A." demonstrate the scale of the American commitment. To keep this vast apparatus running smoothly, new official regulations dictate everything from mandatory triple-vaccine typhoid shots and strict daily uniform pressing to precise ventilation requirements for Ford ambulances—requiring fifteen auger holes drilled into the tail-boards to prevent carbon monoxide deaths.

Amidst these top-down mandates, the paper captures the lived culture of the soldiers themselves. Humor and lighthearted defiance serve as primary coping mechanisms. Satirical dictionaries translate military jargon—defining "camion" as an immovable object carried through the mud and "pay-day" as a brief moment before laundry debts are settled—while verses and songs spoof everything from the daily diet of army beans to the tedious chore of shaving with freezing water in a tin helmet. Personal stories highlight individual bravery, such as the sacrifice of sailor Osmond Kelly Ingram aboard the destroyer Cassin, side-by-side with camp entertainment like a high-stakes boxing match where a modest staff fireman knocks out the regional G.H.Q. champion.

The publication closes by turning its gaze to the bustling life behind the lines. Descriptions of crowded French dining halls, where Yanks from every corner of the United States gather over tan bread and ragtime piano, highlight a growing sense of camaraderie. Commercial advertisements from Paris tailors, American banking services, and local hotels ground the military expedition in a concrete time and place, ending the issue on a note of collective adaptation as the troops settle in to finish the job.

How It Unfolds

A command from the chief General Pershing issues an inaugural greeting to the troops, defining the paper as an authentic voice written by and for the soldiers. He reminds the overseas command of their unique historical privilege and their duty to remain unyielding in the fight.

Clarifying the rules of leave The paper outlines official leave policies to dispel widespread rumors among the ranks. Soldiers learn they will be granted leave in designated zones like Savoy, rotated every four months to ensure everyone gets a fair chance to see France.

Reports of captive hardships A detailed report recounts the testimony of a French repatriate detailing the cruel treatment of American prisoners of war. The account describes severe food shortages, forced labor cleaning latrines, and staged propaganda photographs designed to humiliate the captives.

Building the war machine Articles highlight the staggering scale of American supply depots, repair shops, and newly constructed telegraph networks stretching across the country. The coverage reassures soldiers that Uncle Sam is building a permanent, well-supplied foundation to support their mission.

Directives for health and appearance Official orders enforce strict standards for personal appearance, requiring polished boots and pressed uniforms for any soldier leaving on pass. Accompanying medical guidelines mandate typhoid vaccinations and specific ventilation modifications for Ford ambulances to protect wounded men.

Voices from the mess hall and barracks The narrative turns to the daily humor, songs, and satirical glossaries created by the troops to cope with cold weather and repetitive rations. Stories detail the daily indignities of outdoor shaving, the ban on swearing at army mules, and an unexpected camp boxing championship.

The People

• General John J. Pershing: The Commander-in-Chief of the American Expeditionary Forces. He seeks to build high morale and maintain tight discipline across a vast, newly arrived army. He uses the newspaper as a direct channel to communicate duty, purpose, and official greetings to his men.
• Osmond Kelly Ingram: An American sailor aboard the destroyer Cassin. Facing an incoming German torpedo, he deliberately sacrifices his own life to jettison shipboard explosives, preventing the vessel's destruction and saving his shipmates.
• M. L. Rollett: A repatriated French citizen who gives sworn testimony to the United States Embassy in Paris. He acts as an essential witness, exposing the malnutrition, forced labor, and psychological abuse suffered by American prisoners held in occupied territory.
• Charlie Pewther: A modest twenty-nine-year-old fireman working in the Intelligence Section offices at General Headquarters. A former boxer, he steps into the ring to defend the quartermaster corps' honor, knocking out the reigning camp champion before quietly returning to his coal-box and dime novels.
• Kid Johnson: The confident, undefeated boxing champion at General Headquarters. He seeks to maintain his athletic supremacy across the entire A.E.F., but his aggressive ring style ultimately leaves him open to a decisive counter-punch.

In Its Own Voice

"These readers are mainly the men who have been honored by being the first contingent of Americans to fight on European soil for the honor of their country."

Pershing's opening address establishes the solemn historical weight and sense of duty carried by the newly arrived troops.

"Army Rifle--Something eternally dirty which must be kept eternally clean."

This entry from the soldier-written dictionary highlights the dry, unvarnished humor used by the ranks to endure relentless military routine.

"The paper, written by the men in the service, should speak the thoughts of the new American Army and the American people from whom the Army has been drawn."

The editorial mandate emphasizes that the publication belongs entirely to the enlisted men rather than military brass.

What It's Really About

Behind the practical announcements and camp humor, the publication documents the sudden transformation of a civilian population into an overseas military force. It addresses the shock of cultural displacement, replacing familiar American routines with the damp, muddy realities of wartime France. The text wrestles with the challenge of maintaining individual identity and high spirits while operating inside a massive, rigid bureaucracy. Through shared slang, self-deprecating verse, and collective complaints about rations and weather, the soldiers build a distinct culture that translates personal hardship into shared resilience, forging a unified American identity out of disparate recruits on foreign soil.

Why Read It Today

This publication offers an extraordinary, primary-source window into the daily existence of World War I soldiers that standard history books rarely capture. Readers who enjoy military history, period journalism, or social history will appreciate its balance of official directives and unedited troop culture. Rather than focusing solely on grand strategy or combat tactics, the text reveals what it actually felt like to stand in a cold French square trying to shave with icy water, decipher new military slang, or share a hot meal in a crowded village inn.

The reading experience is fast-paced, highly varied, and deeply immersive, shifting rapidly between stern command orders, comic poetry, wartime propaganda, and vintage advertisements for Paris tailors and banks. Readers should be prepared for period-specific attitudes, occasional wartime caricatures of the enemy, and vintage military terminology that reflects the era's sensibilities. What stays with you long after reading is the authentic spirit of the soldiers—their unpretentious humor, their quiet adaptability, and the sheer human energy they brought to an overwhelming global conflict.