"He was working on a Brooklyn pier, with a score of men under him. He was a little boss and a very good friend of the big boss, who was Irish. Jake thought he would like to have a crack at the Germans... And he enlisted." Chap. 1, p. 4

"A piece of paper was pinned to it on which was scrawled in pencil: 'Just a little gift from a baby girl to a honey boy!'" Chap. 2, p. 16

"'But you must keep it in the dark, buddy,' Zeddy cautioned. 'Don't go shooting off your mouth too free. Gov'mant still smoking out deserters and draft dodgers.'" Chap. 3, p. 22

"'High yallers' were scarce there. Except for such sweetmen that lived off the low-down dark trade." Chap. 4, p. 30

"'Well pardner,' Jake said, 'I've done worked through a tur'ble assortment o' jobs in mah lifetime, but I ain't nevah yet...