WWI Yardlong Somber-Faced US Combat Troops Recently Home from Fighting in France

Description: Faces of War This is a listing of a World War One "Yard long" photo: It is of United States combat troops just returned from the fighting in France. The date is April 11, 1919, exactly five months since the Armistice was signed. They have been home only a few days. All are from the Midwestern United States and were returned from Europe on the ship "Julia Luckenback." The Luckenback was used as a cargo and troop transport during for the last months of the war. It was retired three months after this photo was taken. The picture is by a "Jenkins" of Englewood, New Jersey, leading us to believe the photo was taken in an army camp in the Northeastern U.S. Most of this information is written in faded white a the bottom of the photo. We have included shots of this writing, which is just beneath the crossed legs of the soldiers in the front row. Some comments on the photo:1) Curiously we see what appears to be the same soldier in both the far right and far left of the picture. We have included enlarged shots of him. If anyone knows why this is, and if it was usual, please let us know -- it could be a prank or a case of twins -- the former being most likely to us. 2). It appears that in this, and most yardlong photos we have seen, the soldiers have been instructed to remove all devices and other identifying signs from their uniforms. Obviously some have not done so and we can see infantry devices and patches scattered among the men. One soldier appears to have attached his row of ribbons to his hat so that it falls vertically down to his nose. Another soldier in the far right appears to still be in a rigid right arm brace. (the Julia Luckenback was also a hospital ship designated at one point to return the wounded to the US.) Most touching are the number of men who have placed their arms and hands on the shoulders of a man next to them or in front of them. The war was a horrible one and many men learned from it the power and need of mutual support. 3) Most striking to us are the faces of the soldiers: they appear solum, angry, vacant, and generally traumatized. They were the combat troops who fought the battles we now read about in books. They lived the horror of that war hoping every minute that luck was at their side. All wars are dreadful, but WW1 was an intensely brutal one, fought in trenches under terrible conditions. It took a huge number of casualties, and robbed an entire generation of its men. The faces of these men are the faces of war. Dimensions (approx) Pre-wrappimg:Weight = 5.5 poundsLength in frame = 38.25"Height in frame = 11.5" Please see our photos. Not only are they part of our description, they are also of the actual photo you will receive. We gladly answer questions and/or supply additional photographs. We ask that you make your inquiries prior to bidding. SHIPPING AND CONDITIONS:All our offerings are carefully packed, but we advise our buyers to take out insurance if they wish.We request payment within two days of the auction's close or immediately upon purchase of a "Buy it Now" item.We can arrange combined shipping if you contact us prior to bidding on your first item. For combined shipping, you must purchase everything you wish to combine with this item within 74 hours of the first purchase.Your address must be current with eBay.Please contact us if you have any questions, concerns (or need for information) about this listing. We work hard to have full and satisfactory results for all parties in our transactions.

Price: 95 USD

Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota

End Time: 2024-03-15T21:27:16.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD