Book Description

The Patent Leather Kid, a boxer from New York's Lower East Side, has little affection for his country, now at war with Germany. His contempt deepens when his girl leaves him to entertain the troops in France. The Kid and his trainer are drafted, and the trainer is shot in a military action. This loss spurs on the Kid to acts of heroism, but he is badly injured and becomes partially paralyzed. With his girl friend (who has become an Army nurse) the Kid sees a military parade; and as the colors unfurl, his previously paralyzed hand slowly rises in salute.