Journalist James Carl Nelson's grandfather never said much about his experiences in World War I. Nelson knew that his grandfather was wounded, and that each year he spent the anniversary of the day he fell on the battlefield in a quiet retreat with his wife. After his grandfather's death, Nelson wanted to learn more about his grandfather's experience in the war. Most researchers would be satisfied with their loved one's service record, and perhaps stories from a local newspaper mentioning their loved one's service. In order to put his grandfather's service into context, he broadened his research to his grandfather's company. He learned about each of the men that made up that company - their lives before the war, their experiences during the war, and their fate.

The book wasn't quite what I expected. I anticipated a little more focus on the individual soldiers and their families before and after the war. For the most part, however, the book reads like standard combat history. I also expected the focus to stay on the members of Company D. However, it was easy to lose track of Company D during the descriptions of battles since many other companies made up the larger units of which Company D was a part. Finally, Nelson provides an account of American actions during the engagements in which Company D participated with very little analysis or discussion of German actions. Nelson's tone seems to suggest that the sacrifices of the men of Company D were wasted. That may be true, but I'd like to look at the German perspective before drawing conclusions. What was going on behind the German lines during these engagements? I would have liked a little more context than Nelson provides. Now I'm looking for another book or two that will provide a more balanced analysis of the American participation to add to my World War I reading list. ( )

This book was a fairly unique approach to explaining the events of WWI using the American experience of the war. While I've read about the various battles the AEF participated in elsewhere during the last year, this book gives us the point of view of the individuals actually doing the fighting. Starting with a search for more information about his grandfather's experiences during his time in the army and adding in everything he could find on the men who served in the same Company D, Nelson gives us a picture of just who these men were. They were from every walk of life, some born here and others new immigrants to the US, mostly young men barely out of their teens, brave and scared and determined to do their duty.

When his grandfather died at the age of 101, author James Carl Nelson realized that he knew very little about his relatives’ experiences during WW I even though it was apparent that the year of 1917-1918 had had a tremendous influence. He knew his grandfather was a survivor, that he had taken a horrendous wound and lay for 24 hours in a wheat field along the Paris-Soissons Road before being found and carried to safety. But he knew very little beyond that fact. Deciding to delve into his grandfather’s experiences lead him to discover other stories about his grandfathers companions. These other doughboys of Company D, 28th Infantry Regiment, United States First Division, left America, some to never return, but all had compelling stories of their battles during this last year of the war.

With the help of many of Company D’s descendants, Nelson, using diaries, letters, personal papers and army communications, has delivered a fascinating story (along with detailed maps) about what was awaiting these young eager Americans at the Western Front as he follows these men through their enlistment and training and on to their service in France with particular attention to the three major battles that were fought by this division, Cantigny, Soissons, and the Meuse-Argonne.

From the grimness of the trenches with it’s threats of raids, gas and shelling to the stark horror of “going-over”, crossing into no-man’s land with it’s muck, craters and barb wire, The Remains of Company D describes this horrific war of carnage by telling the story of one group of American soldiers using their own words which gives the book it’s authenticity.

A work that is both heart-breaking and eye-opening, The Remains of Company D stands as not only a tribute to the author’s grandfather, but to all who served. ( )

A bit of a twist on the usual histories of WWI. Nelson's grandfather was wounded at Soissons in 1918, and based on him minimal knowledge of that, he has researched the entirety of Company D and tells of their lives before the war, during the specific battles they fought, and the ultimate fate of each of them. Never read anything like it. Fabulous. But sad.

Sometimes Nelson gets a little dreamy with his scenarios, but overall, a gripping and sobering reminder of the inanity of war. ( )