PBS: Friday 4 July at 8.50pm
The story of America’s participation in World War I has generally been neglected. Some two million U.S. troops – nicknamed ‘Sammies’ after Uncle Sam– saw action in 1917 and 1918, fighting alongside their French and British comrades in arms.
Without their involvement, the war might have ended very differently. In the event, they helped the United States to become the world’s leading military and economic power. Many battlefield artefacts are still being uncovered by archaeological digs along the front lines.
Utilising rarely seen contemporary footage, this documentary salutes the American soldiers who fought in this terrible conflict. It provides an emotional account of their heroic ordeal and the emergence of a nation.
