The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-12-13

huo JuoL iCSClfCu q lCltCi ilOL1 al
son, "Thad," who is fighting with tn
Canadian troops in France. 1t is S,
characteristic of what one would ma
turally expect from Idaho boys unde
fire that it is given here in full. "Thad
admits that he had trouble with hi
knees, but he proved himself a here
just the same. Here is the letter:
Somewhere in France,
November 8, 1917.
Dear Dad:
Just a few lines today to let you
know that l am all O.. k.
/ have been unable to write to you
for the last few weeks on account OF
a little mixup with some shrapnel,
1t was nothing very serious. Three
little pieces in my right thigh and one
in my arm. Was in the hospital for
some time, but got discharged from it
yesterday, and at present am at one of
the convalescent camps. Expect to re-
main here for a few days before be-
ing sent to the base, where no doubt,
I will proceed back to the battle. At
first l thought l might have been
sent to Blighty. Could almost pic
ture myself there for Christmas. But,
was out of luck.
Goes cover the Top"
Does this make you feel any differ
emit? Have won the military medal
for conspicuous bravery in rescuing
two comrades under fire ESQ read the
colonel in giving it to me). If he
only knew how bad my knees were
knocking together the bravery part of
it would have been omitted. l sup
pose I may as we'll tell o the story
of it. We were going over the top at
- one morning. 1t was rain
ing like h. The mud was almost
knee deep and in some places the
water was VI to III waist. God, but
it was awful. Chaps woHnded would
fall into a shell hole full of water.
Being practically helpless they would
To see chaps stuck in the
mud was a very common sight. To
stop and try to pull them out meant
almost certain death from machine
gun fire. The poor devils had to be
eft there, until we took u objective
and send a party back to dig them out.
In "NO Mans Land"
How l ever got across No Mans
Land and into the Hun front line, or
what was left of it, without being hit
S past me. Must have a guardian an
,el somewhere keeping an eye on me.
When we got into the Hun line, there
wasn't so very many Fritzs about.
of the chaps started to chase
hem back across the new No Mans
and. Being on a machine gun crew
ad TO help establish our post. Or, in
Their words, to dig in.
A Cry for Help
After we got our gun up, a cry for
clip was heard. Looking through our
eriscope we saw two chaps on the
rink of a shell hole. So we came to
le conclusion the cry came from one
f them. We looked at each other.
ach one wanting one of the others 7
!, make a move. The cry came again :
| thought l recognized the voice.
told our officer in charge that /
fought it was Brady, the chap who
out OF the navy with me. He put
S field glasses in the p%eriscope, l
a look and saw I was right.
How Matters Stood
Here is how matters stood. Out
ere was an American wounded, here
me, also an American. To make
long story short, over the parapet
goes. AS luck would have it. he
asn't Smelling that part of the line
all. l got out to where they were,
lied them both into the shell hole.
y pal had a broken leg and the
her one was shot through both
ighs. 1 fixed them up the best /
uld.
How to Get Back
The next important thing was to
t them back to the trench. The only |
ng to do was to pack them both in. |
managed to get my pal on my shouN |
r. How | did it the Lord only |
ows. Back we started. Honestly, |
It was the longest 20 yards | ever |
liked in my life. When we got in
ad a very good notion to stay where
vas, but nobody made a move to go
so / figured if / did it once |
Id do it again. There is where |
a mistake. | got out all o. k.
was helping the other chap back
when l thought the whole Hun
ny was shooting at me. We must
e been seen for they started to
pc up with whizz bangs. al
@, Fer a Pair Of Wings!