America lost 116,516 men in WWI, with ~320,000 sick and wounded of the 4.7 million men who served. More men died from disease (63,114) than in combat (53,402), largely due to the influenza epidemic of 1918. But the psychological trauma was
Although her casualties were far less than other major WWI combatants, America was severely traumatized by participation in the Great War.
American soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital 1918, Wiki Media Commons
Prayer of a Soldier in France
My shoulders ache beneath my pack
(Lie easier, Cross, upon His back).
I march with feet that burn and smart
(Tread, Holy Feet, upon my heart).
Men shout at me who may not speak
(They scourged Thy back and smote Thy cheek).
I may not lift a hand to clear
My eyes of salty drops that sear.
(Then shall my fickle soul forget
Thy Agony of Bloody Sweat?)
My rifle hand is stiff and numb
(From Thy pierced palm red rivers come).
Lord, Thou didst suffer more for me
Than all the hosts of land and sea.
So let me render back again
This millionth of Thy gift. Amen.
– Joyce Kilmer (✝ 1918)
“Spanish” Influenza Epidemic 1918: https://www.history.com/news/spanish-flu-deaths-october-1918?cid=sf107759861&fbclid=IwAR1Idk8bazIumqriDk5ahjEibOX0Qle06VcPQow8bhQHQVg2NbI8Ad_z38E