An original stage play by Michael R. Fletcher inspired by the World War I diary of
his grandfather, Reese Melvin Russell of Southwest Virginia.
About the Play
Clean Dry Socks: Diary of a Doughboy follows the journey of a young Virginia soldier drafted into World War I and sent to the trenches of France during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Drawn from a real family diary preserved for generations, the play explores memory, war, home, family, survival, and the quiet stories often left untold long after soldiers return home.
Inspired by actual events and historical records, the play combines Appalachian roots, personal history, and the realities of trench warfare into an intimate stage production grounded in one family’s experience of World War I.
Original Production — 2018
Clean Dry Socks: Diary of a Doughboy premiered in October 2018, produced by River City Community Players and directed by Alex Martin.
Additional Production — 2025
In 2025, Theatre West in Sun City, Arizona produced an adapted version of Clean Dry Socks.
The Story Behind the Play
The inspiration for Clean Dry Socks began with a small World War I diary kept by Michael’s grandfather, Reese Melvin Russell, after being drafted from the mountains of Southwest Virginia and sent to France during World War I.
The diary, preserved by family members for generations, documented his journey from Camp Lee, Virginia to the trenches of Europe and eventually to a military hospital after exposure to mustard gas during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Years later, while participating in historical living history programs and researching World War I, Michael returned to the diary and began shaping the material into a stage play focused not on the politics of war, but on the story of one soldier and one family.
Contact / Rights
For production inquiries or script information, please contact Michael directly.
Available in Print
The published script edition of Clean Dry Socks: Diary of a Doughboy is available on Amazon.