"And they thought we wouldn't fight"

"And They Thought We Wouldn't Fight" by Floyd Phillips Gibbons is a gripping, firsthand account of World War I, documenting the relentless courage shown by American soldiers fighting in France. The book centers on Gibbons' journey as a war correspondent, bringing to light a collection of stories that capture the determination and bravery of American forces against the German army. It opens with a vivid retelling of Gibbons’ own terrifying experience aboard the "Laconia," a ship torpedoed by a German submarine, painting a picture of the chaos and the struggle for survival in freezing waters. These dramatic opening events emphasize the dangers faced by the troops abroad and the high stakes for the American mission as he transitions into the arrival of American troops in France.