My name is Johnathan Gunnels Alexander, commonly known as John G. Alexander or genealogically "Jno". My hometown is Lutherville, Maryland. The ensuing scrapbook is a commemorative remembrance of my life centering on the events of the Great War, and my life after.

When I first knew it was my calling to go off to war, I was devastated to have to leave behind my beautiful wife and son, whom I love very much. But I knew that it was my duty, as an honest man, to defend my great nation. In the war, I was placed in the trenches in France for six months. I worked as an intelligence officer and censor of letters, looking for spilled secrets of war to prevent them getting into the wrong hands. In my free time I was taking lessons to learn German and French. I was kept busy, but managed to make friends such as my good pal Otis.

Throughout all of the frenzy of war I was able to set aside a block of time, usually at the end of the day, to write letters to my family back home. The nature of my letters to Alma, my wife, was that of optimism, because although she rarely admits it I know she is fragile and worries about me.

The Great War wasn’t secluded to European land, my family’s letters brightened my dark days, but they too were fighting battles of there own. While my son, Hood, sent letters of his childhood adventures, my cousin described the changes happening in the glorious states. I’m proud to say that my family is doing all they can to support my comrades and I.

After fulfilling my patriotic duty in France for six months, I returned to my wife and my son. I left them as a chief clerk in Atlanta and returned as a war torn hero, continuing to serve my country through military instruction. But my passion for military service wasn’t enough to fulfill the emptiness in my heart that resulted from my wife’s untimely passing.

Alas, my life is an example of bravery, patriotism and love. It is a story I want to share with all who view my scrapbook of letters, pictures, posters and news articles. Please enjoy my collection.