Overview

"Book 1 in the Legacy of Honor trilogy, The Patriarch follows the life of the patriarch of the family, Sam McCormick, who is part of a contingent of Ohio National Guard units called up to form the Rainbow Division. They were the first American Division sent to France when America entered World War I. He serves as an Infantryman (Doughboy) with the Rainbow Division of the American Expeditionary Force, fighting in France. He will see action in three major operations: the Second Battle of the Marne (7-5-1918 through 8-6-1918), the Battle of Saint-Mihiel (9-12-1918 through 9-15-1918), and the Battle of the Argonne (9-26-1918 through 11-11-1918). During the War, he and his buddies will be gassed and experience horrific artillery bombardments and machine gun fire as they repeatedly cross ""no man's land"" to close with the Germans and take their trenches. He will cross paths with General Pershing, the American Expeditionary Force Commanding Officer, General Douglas MacArthur, the Rainbow Division Commanding Officer, Sgt. York (the most highly decorated American soldier of the War), and Colonel George Patton (the first officer to be appointed to the new US Army Tank Corps). Sam falls in love with Marie, a French nurse he meets while recovering from his war wounds. They will marry in Paris, and she will immigrate to the United States with him. They settle down in a small Ohio town where Sam works in a steel mill as he struggles to settle back into everyday life. Sam will participate in the ""Bonus Army March of 1932"" in Washington DC and be drawn into the riots that ensued when the WWI veterans refused to leave their shantytown encampments. Sam will rise to a senior position in the Steel Industry and be drawn into the Little Steel Strikes of 1937. On Sunday, May 30, 1937, he will witness the Memorial Day Massacre at the Ohio-based Republic Steel mill in Chicago's Southeast Side. He will then be drawn into a violent strike at his own Steel Mill immediately following the massacre. During the Great Depression, he will maintain his job at the steel mill and become a valued member of the community as he helps other families as they struggle with their daily existence. Nightmares resulting from his WW I experience will haunt him, while lung issues from being gassed and digestive issues from poor food, sanitary conditions, and tainted water will plague him for the rest of his life. This historically accurate work of fiction gives the reader a riveting storyline containing a mixture of experiencing the horrors of war in WW I, to following the life of the veterans upon returning home, and intermixed is a sweet love story. It is a fact-based story that must be told about the Doughboys and their struggles in war, love, and civilian life back home in the USA."

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9781954000407

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Reviews

This Book Plunged Me Into WWI... This book plunged me into WWI - the filthy conditions, the never-ending danger, the courageous, young fighters, the strongly bonded friendships - and the daily realities of war. But what stuck with me was the reception by the community and the government itself toward those who managed to return home alive. - Kathy Cretney Where History And Fiction Merge... An incredible piece of historical fiction centered on Sam... a soldier, a Company First Sergeant, and finally a WW1 vet who returns to an America that does little to support those who bravely fought on its behalf. Larry has created a riveting storyline with well-developed characters that traverse the war and the historical years beyond. - F. Michele Jones, retired teacher of creative writing This Story Seized My Range Of Emotions... Vivid descriptions of the horrors of World War I trench warfare combined with a tender love story seized my range of emotions! The Patriarch weaves a story of one man's indomitable spirit, leadership, and courage as a compelling introduction to the saga of the McCormick family. - Shawn Ireland A Worthy Read... The reader begins on the war front, experiencing the horrors of the fight as if in the bunkers himself. Eventually, he learns the hardships of transitioning to his 'new normal' life back home, after surviving the travesty of his war experience. An emotional and intellectual journey. - Alan Zubay Exceptional Story On Amazingly Accurate Pivotal Events From Our Past... If the first book in the trilogy, Legacy of Honor by Larry Freeland is an accurate indicator, this series should be read by everyone. The descriptions of fighting in the trenches and the struggles of the soldiers in World War I is amazingly accurate. Almost nothing is overlooked with cars, baseball, steel mills, strikes, and the bonus army. - Regina Loveridge Exciting And Historically Accurate Tale Of War And Romance... Freeland weaves together an exciting, action-packed, and historically accurate tale of war and romance during and after World War 1. - James Harvey, author of Grayton Beach Affair Captivating And Realistic WW I Experiences... A captivating realistic story of one man's World War I experiences both on the battlefield and postwar; a powerful account of the strength, hope, and love that triumphs over the many obstacles soldiers and veterans endure. - Paulette J. Brown A Masterful Story... Once again, Larry Freeland tells a masterful story. Anxiously awaiting to read books two and three of Legacy of Honor trilogy. - L. Miller Unforgettable Story... Crawl through the trenches of France with American infantrymen and experience the horrendous brutality of WWI warfare ... reminiscent of the carnage in Civil War battle scenes in The Red Badge of Courage. Then follow the doughboys as they assimilate back into American society, often with heartbreaking and unforgettable outcomes. - Jameson Gregg, Gold Medal winner, IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Georgia Author of the Year Freeland's aim is for his trilogy to explore how this country treats its warriors and veterans during and after our wars. With Book One, The Patriarch, he's off to a good start... - Bill McCloud, Vietnam Veterans of America-Books in Review II

Author Information

"Larry Freeland is a third-generation military veteran. His father was an officer in the Army Air Corps/United States Air Force whose career spanned thirty years from World War II through the early stages of the Vietnam War. His grandfather was a World War I doughboy, and his two younger brothers were war veterans who served in multiple conflicts following the Vietnam War. Larry served in Vietnam as an Army helicopter pilot and Infantry Officer with the 101st Airborne Division. He is retired, lives in North Georgia with his wife, Linda, enjoys life, and writing books. This is his second novel. His first novel ""Chariots in the Sky"" has been very successful. Check out his website: larryfreeland.com Nancy Laning, Publish Authority, 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 100, Roswell, GA 30076 - PublishAuthority.com Raeghan Rebstock - Publish Authority, 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 100, Roswell, GA 30076 - PublishAuthority.com Larry Freeland is a third-generation military veteran. His father was an officer in the Army Air Corps/United States Air Force whose career spanned thirty years from World War II through the early stages of the Vietnam War. His grandfather was a World War I doughboy, and his two younger brothers were war veterans who served in multiple conflicts following the Vietnam War. Larry served in Vietnam as an Army helicopter pilot and Infantry Officer with the 101st Airborne Division. He is retired, lives in North Georgia with his wife, Linda, and enjoys life and writing books. This is his second novel. His first novel, ""Chariots in the Sky,"" has been very successful. You are invited to visit his website at LarryFreeland.com. Nancy Laning, Publish Authority, 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 100, Roswell, GA 30076 - PublishAuthority.com Raeghan Rebstock - Publish Authority, 300 Colonial Center Parkway, Suite 100, Roswell, GA 30076 - PublishAuthority.com"

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