Customer Reviews

Through the Wheat: The U.S. Marines in World War I

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When the United States entered Wolrd War I, the U. S. Marine Corps was scattered around the world in penny-packet detachments: ships' companies, coaling station barracks, legation guards, and expeditionary battalions.

Through the Wheat tells the story of how this small band of sea soldiers was drawn together to provide the backbone for a Brigade that ultimately formed half of the U. S. 2nd Infantry Division in France. It is a compelling and meticulously detailed account: keenly observed and superbly written. Although one would have wished for more maps and photographs, Through the Wheat is -- and likely will remain -- the definitive account of the Marines in the Great War. An absolute "must read" for anyone interested in WWI or where and how the modern Marine Corps was born, this is popular military history at its finest.

More than just a recitation of history, "Through the Wheat" is a well-written and interesting book that describes how the Marine Corps burst onto the international scene at Belleau Wood and became known as one of the world's premier fighting forces.

Veteran authors (and veteran Marines ) Brig Gen Edwin Simmons and Col Joseph Alexander have combined forces to give us a history of the Marine Corps in World War 1. Prior to the war, the Marines were a tiny expeditionary unit that was used primarily to fight guerillas in Mindanao or Nicauragua; its most public large battle was as active participants in China's Boxer Rebellion of 1900. But as the United States's entry into WW1 transformed the American military into a cohesive instrument of national power, it also changed the Marine Corps from a seaborne expeditionary unit into a major fighting force that was capable of defeating the established army of a western country.

But unlike the Army, the Marine Corps values its small unit leaders, and in telling their stories, authors Simmons and Alexander excel.From young officers and future Marine commandants ) like 2ndLt Clifton Cates and 2nd Lt Lemuel Shephard, to the old breed like (2x Medal of Honor recipient) GySgt Dan Dailey and Col Albertus Catlin, Simmons and Alexander weave a story of how the Marine Corps passed its traditions and small unit expertise from one generation to the next. "Through the Wheat" also presents the stories of a few of those Marines killed while building these traditions; Yale grad and world mile record-holder Lt Johnny Overton never made it home, whilr LtCol Fritz Wise was never the same mentally after his battalion suffered such horrific casualties. Many old photos, all back & whites, serve to personalize the Marines encompassing this slice of history.

"Through the Wheat" chronicles the Marine fight in Belleau Wood against German poison gas and machine guns where on a single sunny June day, they suffered more dead than in thyeir previous 142 years of existence combined. In both the days preceeding and following Belleau Wood, the Marines fought and won at Lucy-le-bocage, Soissons, Blanc Mont, St Miheil and the Meuse-Argonne.

"Come you sons-of-[...]; do you want to live forever?" bellowed GySgt Dailey when his men were hung up in the wheat at Belleau Wood. While many of them did not, their tradition and quiet heroism did, and "Through the Wheat" is their fine story.

Exceptional reference work, but much, much more. Non-fiction written in such a style that it makes you want to keep turning the pages until the sun comes up in the morning is rare. This one is a real treat. Both authors are well-known historians and acclaimed authors and this effort only serves to add to their laurels.

This is the 90th anniversary of the ending of WW I, so the timing of publication could not be better, except that,regrettably,co-author Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, USMC (Ret) did not live to see the book into print.

The pages are replete with little known Marine historical anecdotes, providing new insights into Marine exploits in the Great War...a war that arguably brought the Corps into international acclaim. This is one to add to your professional library.

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation announced in March 2009 that this book is the winner of the Foundation's General Wallace M. Greene, Jr. Award. The annual Greene Award is given to the author or authors who publish a non-fiction work deemed the best pertinent to the history of the United States Marine Corps.

Leatherneck Magazine

"Through the Wheat" is a well written and throughly researched book that covers the United States Marine Corps' contribution to World War 1 without slighting the Allied and Central Powers forces they fought with and against. WW1 was a lynchpin event of the twentieth century that brought on transition and upheaval worldwide, and a parallel evolution can be seen within the Corps, as it transitioned from a tiny expeditionary unit to a major fighting organization capable of defeating industrialized opponents.

This book is also useful in that it provides biographical insight into some of the Corps' giants of the 20th century, whether they were in the twilight of their careers like Dan Daly, or just emerging like Clifton Cates and Lemuel Shepherd.

Absolutely mandatory reading for any serious student of the Marine Corps or World War 1.

I was anticipating an exciting read but I was a little disappointed. The first quarter of the book was all about logistics which I found a little boring. Once the action began things got better, but, the three day battle of Belleau Wood was only covered briefly as were the other battles. I feel that the book could have been longer and that not enough first hand accounts were used, unlike many books on the British Tommies.As an overview the book is excellent but if you are looking for more "action" then this is probably not the book for you.

Authors Simmons and Alexander give readers a wonderful insight into the Marine experience of World War I. For those who study history with a seriousness of purpose, you will find a common thread of trademark aggressiveness, professional competence, and raw valor that extends from the WWI Marines to the present day Leathernecks.

This is a well-crafted book that provides enough tactical detail without becoming burdensome, and enough strategic insight to allow for a fuller picture of the nearly forgotten conflict. It also provides insight into the young combatants, some of whom survived and went on to become legends in the Corps in subsequent wars.

This is a highly recommended book, especially for Marines.

Gerald Gillis

Award-winning author of Shall Never See So Much

Very good especialy the history of the Corps leading up to WW I. Being a senior I had trouble with the metric measurments in the book.