This is the story in words and photographs of Elmer Dewey, who in 1916 at the age of seventeen walked over to the Masten Avenue Armory in Buffalo, New York, lied about his age, and enlisted in the New York National Guard. He soon found himself caught up in two of the most momentous events of the early twentieth century -- the Pancho Villa punitive campaign and World War I. The book focuses extensively on Dewey's training and ultimate service as an artilleryman with one of the New York Guard's top artillery units -- Battery B, 106th Field Artillery Regiment. It recounts in detail Dewey's and the battery's actions and contributions during their service on the Mexican border and shortly thereafter in France during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive -- the bloodiest battle in American history and the battle that ended World War I.

Signing up -- Villa attacks Columbus, New Mexico -- The U.S. responds -- Call up the guard -- On to Camp Whitman -- 3rd Field Artillery, New York National Guard -- To the border -- Going home -- The Yanks are coming -- Over there -- Into the fray -- Into hell -- Hell continued -- Over, over there -- Home and out -- Epilogue.