Ralph John: The Soldier
Clip: Season 29 Episode 8 | 1m 38s
Private Ralph John’s training for the Great War was two days’ practice with a rifle.
Just a few months before he jumped off with the first wave of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Private Ralph John had been working on his family’s farm in McIntosh, South Dakota. His training as a soldier consisted of two days’ practice with a rifle, and a short stint driving a bayonet into a mannequin. Then he was shipped out, handed a gas mask, and sent into battle.
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Support provided by:
Ralph John: The Soldier
Clip: Season 29 Episode 8 | 1m 38s
Just a few months before he jumped off with the first wave of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Private Ralph John had been working on his family’s farm in McIntosh, South Dakota. His training as a soldier consisted of two days’ practice with a rifle, and a short stint driving a bayonet into a mannequin. Then he was shipped out, handed a gas mask, and sent into battle.
How to Watch American Experience
American Experience is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Buy Now
Related to This Clip
The Great War: Transformed
The Great War: Culture Change
The Great War: Why we made it
The Great War: An Inside Look
The Great War, Part 1: Trailer
The Great War, Part 2: Trailer
The Great War, Part 3: Trailer
The Great War: Chapter 1
Woodrow Wilson: The Decider
Eugene Bullard: An American in France
Ralph John: The Soldier
When is a photo an act of resistance?
For families that just decades earlier were torn apart by chattel slavery, being photographed together was proof of their resilience.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
A composer's research process and the challenges he faced in creating music for the film. (2m 2s)
How could President Wilson call for democracy abroad while suppressing it at home? (1m 46s)
Creating music to reflect the mood and feelings of the film, without editorializing it. (2m 30s)
How a race-car driver came to be one of the most famous fighters of the Great War. (1m 40s)
George Creel — the man tasked with selling the Great War to the American people. (1m 37s)
Video has Closed Captions
After more than two years, thousands of American soldiers boarded ships bound for France. (8m 28s)
How WW1 to “make the world safe for democracy”—altered America’s place in the world. (30s)
American Experience Executive Producer Mark Samels discusses the film and why we made it. (2m 24s)
How an editor selects images, footage, and expert interviews to convey The Lost Battalion. (2m 15s)
For Woodrow Wilson, the Great War was a chance for America to become a global citizen. (1m 12s)
How WWI transformed America through those whose participation has largely been forgotten. (30s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.