Capt. Lester S. Wass

An historical account of Capt Lester S Wass and American Legion Post 3 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The book Chronicles the life of Gloucester native Lester Wass and his exploits as a Marine Corps officer until his death in World War I. In chronicling the life of Capt Wass, the author discusses the world into which Capt Wass was born. The book describes Lester's native Gloucester, both the social and economic dynamics of Gloucester during his childhood, as well as some of the global social and economic conditions that contributed to World War I. The author draws upon his own military experience in discussing the fighting in Europe during WWI leading up to the French American attack south of Soissons in late July of 1918. It was during this military action that Capt Wass was killed. The book also delves into the founding of the American Legion, Post 3, and its first Commander A. Piatt Andrew, the founder of the American Field Service. Post 3 resides in the Legion Memorial Building in Gloucester, an architectural gem, owned by the City and leased to the Post. Facing the Legion Memorial building is a statue of "Joan of Arc," by the sculptor, Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington. The book includes a chapter on the Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington's career and some interesting facts and legends about Gloucester's Joan of Arc statue.