On April 6, 1917, the United States formally declared war against Germany and entered the conflict in Europe. Fighting since the summer of 1914, Britain, France and Russia welcomed news that American troops and supplies would be directed toward the Allied war effort. Over two million U.S. troops served in France during the war. In We Once Had Wings, Margaret’s father Charles decides to grow wheat on his upper state New York dairy farm. He boasted, “Food’ll surely win this war … or line our pockets.” American farmers reported record profits during WW1 by supplying food to war-torn Europe.