Mud and Misery (Dickerson Series, #1) / Dickerson Series (ePub)

The year is 1917, Europe is embroiled in mortal combat. Nationalism, militarism and the tar pit of mutual defense agreements has made the Western Front a desolate wasteland. American Forces are in France and General Pershing, America's Commanding General, is faced with increasing pressure to deploy troops to the front in support of the French and British planned offensive. Pershing knows his forces are unproven and barely trained and he is left with little options. He must move his timetable forward and deploy forces into combat to instill confidence among the Allies in the abilities of the inexperienced American Expeditionary Forces.

A young American, Tom Dickerson, from a tiny town in Texas volunteers for duty in WWI, and quickly learns the brutality of war. His unit, part of the 1st Infantry Division, is the lead element for the attack to reduce a small salient made by the Imperial German Army. Their objective is the little village of Cantingy, France pummeled to the ground by relentless artillery fire. But the German Army isn't willing to concede the village or it's strategic position. Oblivious to the brutality that waits for him, Dickerson lives the nightmare of close combat,

In the desolate rear area of the German Imperial Army, a gifted sergeant who made a name for himself in hand-to-hand combat is given the mission to disrupt the American advance on Cantingy. Handpicked for this mission, Hans Weber and his squad must not allow the Americans access to, or capture the village. Faced with an daunting task of disrupting the American advance, he must also protect the deployment of a new German code box designed specifically to increase the speed and security communications along the front.

The two are destined to meet in the mud and misery of France.