Kelly of the Foreign Legion: Letters of Légionnaire Russell A. Kelly

"Kelly of the Foreign Legion: Letters of Légionnaire Russell A. Kelly" by Russell Anthony Kelly is a heart-wrenching collection of firsthand letters penned during World War I that plunges readers into the brutal world of a French Foreign Legionnaire. Told through the personal correspondence of Russell A. Kelly to his family, the narrative vividly depicts his journey from an eager volunteer to a soldier facing unimaginable horrors. The story opens with Kelly's voyage to France, where he confronts the grim realities of enlistment and witnesses the diverse backgrounds of his fellow recruits. As Kelly transitions from civilian life to military training, his letters capture a raw mix of anticipation, homesickness, and growing awareness of the challenges that lie ahead, forming a powerful connection between the reader and his wartime experience.