White, Leslie, 1896-

Leslie Lee White was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1896. He received his education at Lincoln School in Paducah, Kentucky. White discusses the problems encountered by African-American during the early half of the 20th Century. In 1916, he departed Paducah for New York City where he hoped to find employment. He comments on the war, volunteering for service, boot camp and the trans Atlantic voyage to France. He was assigned to the 520th Engineers. His convoy was attacked by a German submarine on the way to France. He recalls the submarine being sunk by an escort ship with the fleet. After the war, White returned to Paducah where he married Maybell Williams. He also mentions his grandmother, who was a slave and her experiences.