The Lost Battalion [Paperback]

John W. Nell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2001

Personal account by U.S. Army Private John W. Nell of the Lost Battalion during World War I.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"....story has become one of the exciting and authentic commentaries on America's efforts in the First World War." -- Mike Hanlon, The Great War Society

"Having been a soldier for over 34 years, I identified time and time again with what Mr. Nell was describing." -- Whitfield M. McMillan, Chaplain (Colonel) (USA Ret.)

"It is a heck of a story..." -- Mike Cox, award-winning author and columnist

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Historical Publishing Network; First Edition edition (June 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893619192
• ISBN-13: 978-1893619197
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,644,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They held out against incredible odds, January 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Battalion (Paperback)

The Lost Battalion: A Private's Story is a unique, first-person perspective memoir of John W. Nell, one of the privates involved in the World War I "Lost Battalion" incident. Published 83 years after the events it relates, The Lost Battalion is a gripping tale of courage, terror, and survival. The Lost Battalion was not in fact "lost" at all. They were cut off and surrounded by German forces. They held out against incredible odds (including an artillery barrage of "friendly fire" from the American lines) until their presence compelled the German forces to retreat and American forces to finally reach them. World War I ended five weeks after this dramatic battle took place. A scattering of black and white photographs illustrate this slim but compelling story. The Lost Battalion is an essential addition to any World War I studies collection or reading list.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Could Not Put Down Read, July 25, 2001

By 

Glenda Cook (San Antonio, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Battalion (Paperback)

Having never been a fan of war related books I was astounded at my reaction to this book. From the first two pages the narrator and main character drew me in with the very personal approach to his story. And that is exactly what it is..a story of war which does not focus so much on the places, dates and battles but on the interaction of the soldiers, the first person feeling of a young private and the tenacity and heroism that seems to be almost taken for granted. The type of communications available in the trenches...the lack of medical care in that era...all types of things we take for granted today. It was an eye opener and a can't put down read. A book which I'll highly recommend and loan to my friends. GC

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why don't we hear more about WWI?, August 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lost Battalion (Paperback)

This book is really fascinating, because it gives one a ground level view of what combat was really like in WWI. And it was really different from most of the combat images we see on the tube (our primary source for such). It is different because the high impact images we see are tied to the ability to record combat photographically in a high resolution format. That limits our (21st century mankind) experience to WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War (plus a few other minor skirmishes).

What is so incredible about WWI, as seen through the eyes of John Nell, is that he and his comrades did not have the tools or the ability to communicate, which we take for granted.

The fact that the Lost Battalion was saved by a homing pigeon is certainly a metaphor for the level of combat communication in WWI.

Then there is the issue of medical care. How about a hole drilled in your side to release bronchial gunk?

But I guess most impressive was that these soldiers were willing to face grueling fire and near certain death, without question, on the basis of an order from a superior. Would today's 18 year olds do that?

This book is highly recommended.