This is the forward of my book, Unsung Patriot. My editor thought it would be a good idea to tell people why they might want to read it.
You are probably wondering why you should read about a man whose name you can not pronounce. Guy Thomas Viskniskki was my grandfather a fact that may induce some of my relatives to read the book. But why should you?
Have you ever heard of The Stars and Stripes, the newspaper of our armed forces? It has been in continuous existence since 1942, and today it is possible to read it on the Internet. The newspaper did not magically spring up just as our country entered World War II. The version of the paper we know today had been started back in 1918 during the trench warfare of the Great War (World War I).
Back in 1917 my grandfather volunteered for service in the American Expeditionary Forces. He had spent about thirty years in the newspaper business, working his way up from being a printer's devil, to being a reporter and, finally, to being a partner in a syndicate that sold big-name columns to various newspapers. He was experienced in all aspects of the newspaper business. He was aware of how a newspaper could shape opinions and could meld diverse individuals into a cohesive group.
Guy arrived in France in November, 1917. In his travels as a field censor, he found the troops discontented and their morale very low. It was certainly not an army ready to do battle. Based upon his knowledge of newspapers, he believed a newspaper for the A.E.F. would increase morale and help turn the troops into a cohesive, fighting unit.
My grandfather, Guy T. Viskniskki, was the first officer-in-charge and the first editor-in-chief of The Stars and Stripes during the fight months of the A.E.F.
Forward of Unsung Patriot
This is the forward of my book, Unsung Patriot. My editor thought it would be a good idea to tell people why they might want to read it.
You are probably wondering why you should read about a man whose name you can not pronounce. Guy Thomas Viskniskki was my grandfather a fact that may induce some of my relatives to read the book. But why should you?
Have you ever heard of The Stars and Stripes, the newspaper of our armed forces? It has been in continuous existence since 1942, and today it is possible to read it on the Internet. The newspaper did not magically spring up just as our country entered World War II. The version of the paper we know today had been started back in 1918 during the trench warfare of the Great War (World War I).
Back in 1917 my grandfather volunteered for service in the American Expeditionary Forces. He had spent about thirty years in the newspaper business, working his way up from being a printer's devil, to being a reporter and, finally, to being a partner in a syndicate that sold big-name columns to various newspapers. He was experienced in all aspects of the newspaper business. He was aware of how a newspaper could shape opinions and could meld diverse individuals into a cohesive group.
Guy arrived in France in November, 1917. In his travels as a field censor, he found the troops discontented and their morale very low. It was certainly not an army ready to do battle. Based upon his knowledge of newspapers, he believed a newspaper for the A.E.F. would increase morale and help turn the troops into a cohesive, fighting unit.
My grandfather, Guy T. Viskniskki, was the first officer-in-charge and the first editor-in-chief of The Stars and Stripes during the fight months of the A.E.F.
This is his story.