White Lightning, Guest Post by Patrick Kirk

No rest for the weary, General Pershing asks the ‘Fighting First’ for more after the brutal fight at Cantigny. Soaked to the bone and under strict orders to move only at night with no lights allowed, Tom Dickerson’s squad leads his division towards their jump off point, using only flashes of the fierce white lightning and determination to guide them through the fierce storm. Victimized by a biblical thunderstorm and self-doubt, Dickerson and his squad blindly maneuver across enemy ground under the cloak of darkness while a ruthless German raider conspires with a French traitor to turn the tide of the war.

Fight First at Soissons

The Americans entered World War I after fifty-two years of limited, small-scale conflicts. Preparing for war of the size and scale of a world war was something the United States wasn’t truly ready to do. They hadn’t seen a draft since the Civil War, the nation had a limited military-industrial complex and the will of the nation to commit to a world war was tenuous at best.

Prior to the start of the draft in May 1917, the United States had nearly 130,000 men in uniform; this was a fraction of the multi-million man armies of the warring nations across Europe. But, by the peak of its preparation for war in early 1918, the nation had a budding military-industrial foothold, nearly three million men in uniform, and three-hundred and twenty-five thousand deployed to Europe.

Drawing by Pete Culos, courtesy of author

Cantigny, a small village in northern France, had been liberated by the 1st Infantry Division of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on May 28^th, 1918. After the successful operation to free Cantigny by the Americans, the German forces launched a counteroffensive aimed at retaking the village. The Germans saw the AEF’s presence as a threat and wanted to eliminate it before it could grow to a larger force on the Western Front.

The German forces heavily bombarded Cantigny, and the ensuing battle was fierce. The 1^st Infantry Division, despite being relatively inexperienced, managed to repel the Germans and hold their ground against seven successive counterattacks. The ‘Fighting First’ demonstrated resilience and determination, earning the respect of their allies and adversaries alike.

To build off the momentum of the successful defense of Cantigny, General Pershing and the Allies planned a subsequent offensive towards Soissons, a strategic town located further south. From July 18^th to the 22^nd, the battle raged and was part of the larger Aisne-Marne counter offensive. The purpose of the attack on Soissons was to cut the German supply lines and stop any momentum the Germans had towards Paris.

The 1^st Infantry Division under the command of Brigadier General Charles Summerall, led the movement from Cantigny to Soissons, and because of the air superiority of the Germans in the region, the French high command instructed commanders to move their forces only at night to avoid detection.

The American division marched from Cantigny to the Foret de Compiègne on July 16^th; for two nights, a fierce storm plagued the Western Front. Historic amounts of rain turned trails into quagmires and forced the division to march off the trail.

The ‘Fighting First’ (a nickname of the 1^st Infantry Division, more than likely given by newspapers and correspondents that covered the division early in France) successfully made the nearly thirty-kilometer movement to Soissons, and on July 18^th, the 1^st Infantry Division started their attack. The battle was marked by intense fighting, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The AEF and 1^st Infantry Division made significant progress and managed to capture important positions, including the village of Villers-Cotterêts.

However, despite their initial success, the AEF’s advance was eventually halted due to a combination of factors. The German forces brought in reinforcements, and their defensive positions became stronger. Additionally, logistical challenges and exhaustion hindered the American’s ability to sustain their momentum, and like so many moments on the front, the success stalls.

By July 21^st, the 1^st Infantry Division advanced eleven kilometers into the German salient. Some historians claim the battle ended in a tactical draw, but through the relentless efforts of the ‘Fighting First’ it allowed the AEF to achieve their strategic objectives of reversing the gains of the Germans and introducing Americans a premier fighting force. The American forces proved their lethality and tenacity during those long days in July 1918, while boosting morale among the Allies and signaling a turning point in the war.

With no rest for the weary, General Pershing asks the ‘Fighting First’ for more after the brutal fight at Cantigny.

Plagued by German air superiority and while soaked to the bone the division can only move at night. Forced to use only flashes from the fierce white lightning and his determination, Corporal Tom Dickerson’s squad leads the 1^st Infantry Division towards their jump off point. In his first real leadership role, Dickerson and his squad blindly maneuver across enemy ground under the cloak of darkness while victimized by a biblical thunderstorm, self-doubt, and a ruthless German raider who conspires with a French traitor to turn the tide of the war.

The war council came together on the heels of the order from the French High Command to prepare for a counterattack at Aisne-Marne to relieve pressure from the Marne salient. Summerall stood behind the senior officers who bent over the map on the table. He had no trouble seeing the map. The smoke from around the room blossomed at his head level and the American general professionally waived his hand to clear his view.

The chatter would hit a crescendo and then settle to a more manageable tone. He was tired, wet, and hungry. His uniform was soaked, and Summerall had trouble feeling his feet, but he didn’t stir. The conversation between the senior officials was nearing an end and he needed to drink in as much of the discussion as possible. After all, he was the commander of the U.S. First Infantry Division, responsible for the men and the plan to move them from outside of Cantigny to Mortefontaine.

White Lightning is the second novel in a seven-part series that follows the journey of Tom Dickerson, a fictional character from Wimberley Texas as he navigates the unfamiliar challenges of armed conflict. Hidden from this world of brutality in the hill country of Texas, Dickerson must learn to adapt to this war of attrition where unprecedented destruction, suffering, and the loss of life made little sense to the men who lived the horrid life in mud and misery.

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/White-Lightning-Dickerson-Universe-Book-ebook/dp/B0D6M86H8J

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Lightning-Dickerson-Universe-Book-ebook/dp/B0D6M86H8J/

Meet Patrick Kirk

Patrick is the author and creator of the Dickerson Series, a historical fiction story that follows Tom Dickerson through the battles of the 1st Infantry Division in World War I. He has also shaped a dynamic universe of characters that come to life in a series of single shot novellas designed to bring specific personalities to life and events that shaped them.

He is a proud Texan, veteran of 22yrs on active duty in the Army, and author. Patrick survived the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on 9-11 and is now an executive in professional consulting entity. He lives in the Texas hill country with his wife and spends most of his time writing, enjoying Texas whiskey, his grandchildren and best friend, Charlie.