Unknown Soldier

Unknown Soldier 
by David Preston

Book: Unknown Soldier
Publisher: ‎ Azalea City Publishing
Pub Date: June 3, 2023
Genre: Historical, War
Format: eBook
Source: Author Request
Book Links:  Amazon

Ever wondered what the lives of the unidentified soldiers buried at the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington National Cemetery were like? In 1917, the United States entered World War. I, the war to end all wars. One of the most famous American divisions in the war was the 42nd Rainbow Division. An integral part of that division was the 167th Alabama. This story follows what could have been the experiences and lives of those men that fought galliantly and bravely in some of the fiercest fighting along the Western Front. This coming of age story follows a young man from a small Southwest Alabama town that goes out into the world to find adventure and finds himself and his friends in the middle of the fighting.

My Review: I am very picky and almost never read books focused on a war, but luckily WW1 is what I had the most history on and went for it. I was quite surprised by this book and actually came to really enjoy it. 

I like anything where you take something that we already know about in some fashion and then give it a twist by making it a retelling from a whole new POV or simply just like here, what we thought it would've been like to be there and experience it. 

It's different, refreshing and won't bore you like that history class. 

 

If you're looking to add to your collection or want that new POV then go ahead and get this book on your TBR, you won't regret it. 

My Rating:

✪✪✪✪

Guest Post - Unknown Soldier

 

**The Journey Behind "Unknown Soldier: World War 1"**

 

**By David L. Preston** 

The seed for my debut novel, "Unknown Soldier: World War 1," was planted during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery when I was just a child. Standing before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I was struck by a profound question: What were the lives of these men like before they became unknowns? This question lingered in my mind, sparking a lifelong curiosity about the stories of the soldiers who rest there in anonymity. 

As I grew older, my fascination with these untold stories only deepened. What began as a single book idea gradually expanded into a vision for multiple novels, each one dedicated to a different unknown soldier from the various wars. I wanted to bring to life the personal histories and experiences of these brave individuals, giving voice to those who had been silenced by the ravages of war. 

During my research for the project, I stumbled upon a significant piece of history that would shape the direction of my first novel. I discovered that the Alabama 167th National Guard served as part of the 42nd Rainbow Division during World War I. Intriguingly, some of the war dead from the battles fought by the 42nd were buried in cemeteries from which the bodies for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were selected. This connection felt like a sign; being from Alabama, I felt a deep resonance with the men of the 167th, and I knew their stories needed to be told. 

Basing my characters in the Alabama 167th allowed me to delve into rich, authentic accounts of the men who served in this distinguished unit. The fictionalized experiences of my characters are drawn from real-life anecdotes and historical records I uncovered during my research. These stories of courage, camaraderie, and the harsh realities of war provided a solid foundation for my narrative. 

"Unknown Soldier: World War 1" follows James Reynolds, a young man from Thomasville, Alabama, who seeks adventure beyond his small town. His journey takes him to the bustling city of Mobile and eventually to the Western Front of World War I. Alongside his best friend, James fights in the trenches as part of the Alabama 167th, enduring the trials of war and forging unbreakable bonds. 

Writing this novel has been a deeply personal and rewarding journey. It has allowed me to pay tribute to the soldiers of the 167th and, more broadly, to all who have served and sacrificed in war. Through James' story, I hope to honor the memory of the unknown soldiers and to remind readers of the human lives behind the historical events we read about in textbooks. 

"Unknown Soldier: World War 1" is not just a tale of war; it is a story of friendship, bravery, and the quest for meaning amidst chaos. I am thrilled to share it with readers and to contribute to the enduring legacy of the soldiers who gave everything for their country. 

For those interested in exploring this journey with me, "Unknown Soldier: World War 1" will be released on June 3, 2024, by Azalea City Publishing LLC. It will be available in both hardcover and paperback formats and can be purchased on Amazon. You can also ask your local bookstore to order or carry it for you. 

I invite you to join me in honoring these forgotten heroes by delving into their stories, preserved in the pages of this novel.

Author Interview with David Preston

 

Author of Unknown Soldier 

Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
The book is a coming-of-age story for a young man in Southwest Alabama. While trying to make his way in life in the big city of Mobile, life happens. Instead of becoming the carpenter apprentice that he wants to become, he ends up taking a job at the docks in the city to provide for himself and income. While in Mobile, the Pancho Villa raids into New Mexico happens, which is the impetus for him join the Alabama national guard which Carry them both to the American southwest, and to the front lines of Europe, where he finds friendship and love.
 
What was the inspiration for the story? 
Ever since I visited Arlington national Cemetery as a child, I'd always thought to myself, “ what were the lives of the men buried at the tomb like?” That thought has always stuck with me, and in high school I thought to myself that it would always make a good book to write. Over the years, as life happened, the thought never went away, but it did evolve. It evolved from a one book idea, a series of books, one book covering each Soldier that is or was buried there. There. I always knew that I wanted one of my main characters to be from Mobile Alabama, and when. I was doing. Research into how the bodies buried at the Tomb ended up there, I discovered that the famed 42nd Rainbow division fought in some of the same battles whose dead we're buried at one of the cemeteries from which the body was selected from. When I discovered in my research that the Alabama 167th National Guard unit served in the 42nd Rainbow, the rest for the story line just fell into place. The experiences of the character in the book, especially the lighter moments in the midst of training and battle are taken from anecdotes of real life experiences of soldiers that served during that time in the Alabama 167th.
 
Are you working on anything else at the present you would like to share with your readers about? 
I am finishing up a project titled 1828 right now. It is an alternative historical fiction novel that will be out by the end of the summer. While certainly not intended this way, it will become an indictment of the 2024 election, and the candidates in the the 2024 election using The 1828 presidential electoral rematch between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams. I am also going to have out by the end of the year a Modern-day organized crime murder novel titled “The Killer Family”. I am also currently researching information for the follow-up novel of Unknown Soldier, based off of a World War II character.
 
What do you like to do when you are not writing? 
Like most authors, I enjoy reading during my off time, and because I grew up the son of a history major, I grew up going to civil War battlefields instead of Disney World and six flags. I continue to enjoy doing that as an adult.
 
What comes first, the plot or characters? 
Honestly, it depends. Some stories I find it better to develop the plot first, and then fill in the characters as you're developing the plot, and sometimes I find it is better to develop the characters, and then develop the plot around the characters.
 
Where can readers find out more about you and your books? 
I have a author website davidlpreston.com you can also search for my author page on Facebook, David l. Preston, find me on Twitter @dpreston2020 and Instagram and Threads @davidpreston61

 
Let’s Add Some Fun!

 
Would you rather have an endless summer or an endless winter? 
I live in Mobile, Alabama where the summer time is regularly. The upper '90s with 95% plus humidity, and Winters are usually in the '60s with 50% humidity. I would prefer endless Winters LOL
 
Morning person or Night owl 
I'm a very cranky Beaver until I've had breakfast and had a chance to catch up on the morning news, joe, I guess more of a night owl.
 
Favorite artist and favorite song? 
While I do not have a favorite song, in particular, I do enjoy plenty of artists in the country, music space and Southern gospel realm. Some of my favorite artists currently, are Julia Cole and Alli Walker, both up and coming independent country music artists, and groups in the southern music realm like The Hoppers, Triumphant Quartet, and the Gaither Vocal Band.