"According to Paul Fussell..."

Also according to "Oh! What a Lovely War," which offers a comparable view of history. The war is won in the screen version by the arrival of the no-nonsense General Pershing who, absurdly, takes silent charge of Allied Headquarters.

But seriously. The 112,000 American fatalities in World War I died no less hard than the 900,000 British (totals that include those who died not of wounds but of influenza in the fall of 1918). And since Americans were in major action for less than six months (not four years, like the British), that total is neither negligible nor incommensurable.

As another measure of the intensity of the US contribution: In terms of US combat deaths, six months of American campaigning in WW1 equaled nearly ten years in Vietnam.

Hardly a mere "propaganda" contribution.

2,000,000 Americans were in France in November, 1918, with 2,000,000 more in training in the United States. Economically weakened and psychologically weary, Germany could not hope to overcome the potential industrial and manpower impact of the United States on the conflict, no matter who provided the weapons.

While the Americans did not "win the war" (as they liked to believe), it is factually unwarranted to dismiss their contribution to the Allied victory in lives and treasure as mere "propaganda."