The Redwood gazette., 1917-01-31
The Home Coming Of
Company L, End Mimi.
Boys Are Pleased With Recep-
ti0n Given Them by Old
Soldiers And Citizens
ARE SURPRISED TOO
Got Ready for Reception but
Expected Nothing so Elab-
crate AS Was Prepared
(By One of The CompanyD

(By One of The Company
In true Texas terms, it was a
sure enough reception-this
Homecoming of ours. We knew
something unusual awaited our
arrival after our two weeks de-
tention at Fort Smelling, enroute
home from the Border. We knew
the band would meet US and a
lot of folks if we came home by
way of the Northwestern; visit
ors from Redwood Falls and let
ters to the boys from home folks
! gave the information that We
were to be banqueted and danced.
And there were sly suggestions,
too, about mysterious prepara-
tions which would not be di-
vulged, but they didn't whet our
curiosities beyond control. We
knew we were to be welcomed
and we knew we were so glad
to get home that we had very
little anxiety about any possible
demonstration. Yet even at that
we knew full we'll to expect some
thing out of the ordinary for
that seems to be Redwood's way
of putting things across"
We had left Minneapolis af-
ter several hours Of grief, mere
ly puttering about the yards
where every extra delay prom
ised to get us home too late for
any sort of a reception. Final
ly under way, however, our spec
lal train made record time. We
made few stops, the longest at
Winthrop where the cars bear
ling the soldiers of Company "A,
the band and Machine Gun Com
pany were switched to an engine
going to New Ulm. Finally the
long whistle blast announcing
North Redwood-the best SOUND
he had heard in seven months,
declared Corporal Russell Bunch
and every man was ready and
jammed into the narrow aisle
for the unloading. Here was
our first big surprise to see so
many people, including the Band,
come down the long hill and
thru the biting cold to get the
first glimpse of us. A lot of
bobs, enough SO as not to over
crowd any one of them, soon
had us away and within sight
of Redwood's welcome lights
Coming up the long hill and
the near approach to town,
friends riding with us began to
intimate some of the surorises in
store, but | am sure our surprise
was as genuine over the incidents
of our arrival as if no warning
had been given. Turning west
into town with shrieking cheers
ringing from the bob loads of
soldiers and friends was the
signal evidently for the general
commotion, for Immediately
rockets began to streak the sky
and red fire spread it's glow ever
the street and the gathered
crowd, and the fire whistle sir
ened forth it's screecfing well
come and all the available bells
changed out their steel tongued
greetings. We were unloadei at
the corner of Bridge and East
Street to form in company COL
umn to march to the armory,
joined here too by former men,
bers of the company who made
up more than two squads. And
most impressive above all 9TH
ers were the old veterans who
formed as a van guard under
Commander Henry Schmidt, al
SO clad in uniform and bearing
rifles, their muskets Of Civil War
model. Led by this the guard
marched directly to the armory,
passing thru lanes of citizens
along which luridly glared a line
of red fire, the crowds cheering
wildly and the band playing its
"durndest.' We were safe at
home after seven months of
playful and harmless watchful
waiting.
After half hour in which to
hurriedly and partially greet
friends and relatives we were
marshalled down to the armory
Continued on last page)