junker: Aristocratic Prussian landholder devoted to militarism and authoritarianism, providing the German military forces with many of its officers.
knout: Whip with a lash of leather thongs, formerly used in Russia for flogging criminals. To flog with the knout.
mashie nib: Mashie-Niblick (mah-she nib-lik)—Wood shafted golf club with about the same loft and length as today’s seven iron.
poilus: French common soldier, especially in World War I.
verst: Russian measure of distance; 3500 feet, 0.6629 mile, 1.067 km.
viand: Choice or delicate food.
volplane: Glide in an airplane without power.
I (Don Kostuch) am the son of John Kostuch, then from Detroit, who was a Mechanic in the 339th, Company M. He saw some action in the fall of 1918 but due to flu, exposure and a dislocated joint, was evacuated to England on December 1, 1918 before the gruesome winter described in the book. {sources: “M” Company 339th records and Golden C. Bahr papers, 1918–1919.}
