Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) * * * * * +-----------------------------------------------------------+ | Transcriber's Note: | | | | Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has | | been preserved. | | | | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For | | a complete list, please see the end of this document. | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------+ * * * * * [Illustration: PRIVATE EDWARD ALVA TRUEBLOOD] _Observations of an American Soldier During His Service With the A. E. F. in France_ In the Flash Ranging Service _by_ _Private Edward Alva Trueblood_ [Illustration] Press of THE NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY Sacramento, California 1919 [Illustration] "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands-- one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." This book is a record of the personal observations of a private soldier in the Flash Ranging Service of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. It not only relates his experiences while in France, but also tells of going over and returning. In brief, it is a soldier's story from the time he left America to help crush the autocracy of Germany, until he returned again after fighting was over. Contents Chapter Page I. Going Over 1 II. Our First Glimpse of France 10 III. From Brest to Langres 18 IV. Nearing the Front 29 V. Preparation for Battle 37 VI. The Great St. Mihiel Drive 42 VII. Gassed 54 VIII. Hospital Experiences 63 IX. Home Again 72 In the Flash Ranging Service _By Private Edward Alva Trueblood_ Chapter I. Going Over.