COLONEL ROOSEVELT IN AMERICA TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL ROOSEVELT IN FRANCE 20 A GROUP OF OFFICERS OF THE 1ST BATTALION, 26TH INFANTRY 24 Haudivillers, April, 1917 BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANK A. PARKER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL THEODORE ROOSEVELT, AND MRS. ROOSEVELT AT ROMAGNE 38 "CHOW" 58 Drawn by Captain W. J. Aylward, A. E. F., 1918 BEFORE THE OFFENSIVE 78 Drawn by Captain W. J. Aylward, A. E. F. THE SIGNAL CORPS AT WORK 86 Drawn by Captain Harry E. Townsend, A. E. F. A TRENCH RAID 130 Drawn by Captain George Harding, A. E. F., Montfaucon AN AIR RAID 172 Drawn by Captain George Harding, A. E. F. August, 1918 THE RHINE AT COBLENZ 226 Drawn by Captain Ernest Peixotto, A. E. F. THREE THEODORE ROOSEVELTS 240 Copyright, Walter S. Shinn AVERAGE AMERICANS CHAPTER I BOYHOOD RECOLLECTIONS "'Tis education forms the common mind,-- Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined." ALEXANDER POPE. From the time when we were very little boys we were always interested in military preparedness. My father believed very strongly in the necessity of each boy being able and willing not only to look out for himself but to look out for those near and dear to him. This gospel was preached to us all from the time we were very, very small. A story, told in the family of an incident which happened long before I can remember, illustrated this. Father told me one day always to be willing to fight anyone who insulted me. Shortly after this wails of grief arose from the nursery. Mother ran upstairs and found my little brother Kermit howling in a corner. When she demanded an explanation I told her that he had insulted me by taking away some of my blocks, so I had hit him on the head with a mechanical rabbit. Our little boy fights were discussed in detail with father. Although he insisted on the willingness to fight, he was the first to object to and punish anything that resembled bullying. We always told him everything, as we knew he would give us a real and sympathetic interest.