Navy Veteran, Gary Foster, Shares His Grandfather’s WWI Experience in Book

Retired U.S. Naval flight officer Gary Foster published “Notes from the Trenches: A Musician’s Journey Through World War I” about his musician grandfather, Leo Foster, who served in World War I. Leo tucked away memories – letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs – of his involvement in the war in a footlocker, something Gary was happy to receive. He combed through the items for four years and compiled them into this book.
 
In the early years of the 20th century, the Foster family of Wisconsin were untroubled and vigorous. Just like the other families in their area, they were descended from German immigrants, hardworking and also having a penchant for beer. Widowed early in her life, Barbara Foster formed a loving home for her children Leo, Ottilia, Mary, and Kunigunda. The siblings were all musicians and they formed their own orchestra and played in regional and local venues.
 
Despite President Woodrow Wilson’s promise to keep the country out of war, America soon dragged itself into the Great War overseas. Leo, a bugler for the Wisconsin National Guard, was sent to the front lines.
 
After almost a century, “Notes from the Trenches” reconstructs Leo’s wartime experience from the memorabilia in his footlocker. The book follows Leo from his stateside training to his battle-weary return home in May of 1919.
 
One reviewer commented that “‘Notes from the Trenches’ is a fascinating glimpse back in time to World War I. It is fair to say that this war has been largely overshadowed by World War II and the conflicts that have since followed. As a result, bookstores have an abundance of material on those subjects, but only a handful on the War to End All Wars. This book puts World War I in the hands of the reader as written by bugler Leo Foster in his letters home to his mother Barbara and his sisters. The colloquialisms, daily routines, and wide-eyed wonder of a young man experiencing the Old World as new in the midst of conflict are fresh on the page. The author allows Leo to speak in his own words, while guiding the reader through the broader historical events of the conflict. This has the effect of giving the reader the chance to experience the war much the same way Leo Foster’s mother and sisters would have through his letters. Readers will find Leo to be brash, humorous, and possessing a brand of ‘gee whiz!’ American optimism that seems to have largely faded from American civic life.”
 
The book “Notes from the Trenches” will be displayed in the upcoming 2018 New York Rights Fair on May 30 to June 1, 2018.
 
Notes from the Trenches
Written by: Garry H. Foster
Published by: Outskirts Press Publishing
Published date: Dec 29, 2017
Paperback price: $29.95
 
About the Author 
Gary Foster, Leo Foster’s grandson, was inspired by his grandfather’s legacy and served for 27 years in the US Navy as a naval flight officer.

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