The second group of letters can be grouped under the theme of local heroes. These letters portray Columbus’ young men in a positive light and show the World War as morally right. This was common theme across America at the time, for a soldier of the America Expeditionary Force wrote, “war’s great caldron of heroism, praise, glory poetry, music, brains, energy, flashes and grows, rustles and roars, fills the heavens with its mighty being….. Oh! War as nothing else brings you back to the adventurous times of old”.[1]  Letters like the one written by Mr. George Mosley to his parents detail the supportive and great appreciation that the French people had towards the American soldiers as they were being sent back home.[2] 

          Other historians have noted that soldiers’ letters were used to promote ‘heroic tales’ across the nation during the First World War. Prior to the war, Americans were more interested in local news, whether it be horse races or local crimes[3]. After America’s entrance into WWI, people’s demand for news, or more accurately stories, about ‘their boys’ winning battles and making America proud increase greatly as attention changed from local news to war new.[4] The Columbus Dispatch was not alone in publishing these letters.  Many newspapers helped connect local towns to the national war effort and “sell” the war by showing how Americans were doing good work abroad. 

 

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