What happened after signing up in World War 1?

Answer 1

The question does not specify, but if you signed up in the US Army for WW1, it probably went something like this:

1) After receiving your physical examination, you stood in line to receive an olive drab uniform with puttees (strips of cloth to keep your pants legs tight around your boots). The uniform does not fit, so you exchange it with someone else for the right size. You also receive a felt campaign hat like Smokey the Bear wears, but later you will receive a British steel helmet, aka a tin lid. Don't worry about this one. One size fits all.

2) You sleep in a barracks with the other recruits, eat lousy food, and every day you awake early to train for war. You are given a Springfield M1903 rifle, and you learn how to shoot with it. You also receive a bayonet which, when fixed to the rifle is about twelve inches shorter than the German rifle with bayonet, so bayonet training will be intensive. Again, don't worry. Bayonets are a tradition left over from the past. The machine gun dominates the Western Front, and you'll probably never get close enough for a bayonet action with the Hun.

3) You'll also receive other equipment that you will need: canteen, gas mask, ammunition belt, and the worst, most uncomfortable backpack ever invented. Some genius decided that your bayonet scabbard should be attached to the side of the backpack instead of hanging from your ammo belt, and it is so long that you can't pull it from the scabbard. Your buddy will have to pull it for you, and you'll pull his. Relax. You'll probably never need it except to open a can of food. And don't worry about German bayonets. A German bullet or artillery shell will probably get you first.

4) Your training is finished very quickly, as your country had tried to avoid involvement in this war until the last minute, but now everything is rushed. You then admire yourself in your uniform, say goodbye to your loved ones, and board your ship to go Over There.