Joseph Goldstein World War I memoir

Typewritten memoir by Joseph Goldstein (Harvard SB 1918) about his experience serving in France during WWI. It is a 60-page document filled with journal entries and musings about his experiences in the American Expeditionary Forces abroad and his time once at home. Goldstein told his grandchildren that the memoir was named “How I Won the War!” The memoir is largely structured like a journal, with Goldstein recounting his experience chronologically. He begins his account at Harvard Street Railroad Station at eight o’clock on May 16, 1918. Goldstein then reports his experience from camping in D.C. to his journey to Europe on the H.M.S. Toloa, to their arrival in Brest, France. Throughout the memoir Goldstein incorporates concise descriptions of many of the French towns he visits, including: Longres, Chalindrey, Dijon, Toul, Mandres, and Nancy. He is quite thorough in detailing his travel history, and he often includes specific details of each experience, even using dialogue in some parts. Goldstein describes a variety of things: American weapons, the St. Mihiel offensive, French synagogues, French citizens’ excitement and doubt at the news of the war ending, the process of returning to America, etc. Goldstein only references a few names in his account. They include: Sgt. William Saklad, Lt. Darwin R. Kemper, Abe Simmons, Jules Babonneau, Walter Draudt, Meyer Odence, and Cl. H.G. Alexander. Goldstein ends his account on March 21, 1919 in Camp Devens, MA, hopeful that he will be discharged to Boston on Monday. He ends noting, “I have just finished talking to my mother and my little girl. God, but it’s good just to hear their voices again!”