King George V Letter to American Troops
By the time the United States joined the effort in 1917, Great Britain had been at war with the Central Powers since August, 1914. The bulk of Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing's American Expeditionary Forces began arriving at the Western Front in the spring of 1918, after first stopping in England before sailing for France. Upon their arrival in England, many soldiers and airmen were given an envelope containing a very special message from King George V. Upon his arrival in Liverpool in September 1918, Lt. Thomas G. Spates (pictured here) said the letter from the King “made a fine impression.” (U.S. Air Force photo)