I am an American, page 10

     "When she saw a man coming toward her, the young girl started to run away."

I am an American, page 9

     The German officer said that all the women in that part of the country dressed very nicely, and tried to drive on.
     But Mr. Gerard thought the women might be French prisoners, so he got out of the car and started toward the nearest one.

I am an American, page 8

  One day, Mr. Gerard was riding in a car out in the country with two German officers, and he saw some young women working in the fields.  He said to a German officer, "Those women do not look like peasants."

I am an American, page 7

     Just before America entered World War I, in 1917, we had an American Ambassador in Germany named James Gerard.  Because England and France were at war with Germany, it was his duty to take care of all the English and French people in Germany.  He had to do what the English and French Ambassadors would have done, if they had been there.

I am an American, page 6

     And after a moment, the man's eyes grew bright.  He reached out for the hot tea and drank it eagerly.  

     He was no longer afraid when he heard the words "I am an American."

I am an American, page 5

     So, the officer said to the Chinaman...

     "I am an American.  We are all Americans."

I am an American, page 4

     At last, one of the officers said, I believe the poor fellow thinks we're Germans; he thinks we are giving him poison!"

I am an American, page 3

     The American sailors lifted the man on board their ship and hurried to get warm clothes and hot tea for him.  But to their surprise, he would not drink.  He put up his hands to push away the cup, and seemed terribly afraid.

I am an American, page 2

     They lowered one of their boats and rowed out to the tossing lifeboat.  There was only one man on it.  He was a Chinaman and he was half-dead with cold, hunger, and thirst.  He was the only man left alive from a ship that a German submarine had sunk.

I am an American, Page 1

I am an American 

a little book about American identity  

by Gail McGaffigan

and Sara Cone Bryant

     One day, in the winter of 1917, the men on a ship of the American Navy looked out over the grey waves of the Atlantic Ocean and saw a lifeboat tumbling about in the stormy sea.