Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-11-08
LETTERS FROM OVER THERE
Somewhere in France.
Sept 20, 1918.


Somewhere in France.
Sept 20, 1918.
THE HIGHLAND RECORDER
Monterey, Va, U. S. A.,
Dear Friends, 49,.
Since my arrival in France l
have received the Highland Record
er promptly each week and have
read with much interest all of it's
contents. Any news from home is
greatly appreciated by the soldiers
far away and I know of no paper,
which affords me more pleasure than
the good old Highland Recorder. In
it 1 have seen letters from about all
the fellows from Highland, who are
over here and I sometimes feel like
+ have neglected my duty to my
], ;":1Dapcr this being the first letter
written directly to the Recorder.
+:Cwoyer, l wish to say that I am
cry proud CT your ardent ,worlie rs
LEX in old Highland who are Civ
ing 50 much for the noble cause fol-
which we are fighting and l ain
Quitesurc your reward vii be in pro-
portion to your expended efforts.
l am located in a fine section Of
France where the weat Tier and seem
cry are wonderful, hut every night
is a Fourth of July, which robs
dame nature CT her beauty vested On
this particular pGrtof France, One
cannot realize tie sacrifice of the
man who shoulders a gun until he
has seen the results CT battle and
horrible effect Of Hun gas, hats off to
the dough boys; they deserve the
credit which is given them by all
branches OF thescrvice at the Front
today. Another branch Of the
service which appeals to me (a3 it
does TO all who have seen them in
actior) is the Aviation CoiEs, you
can see them soaring about in TIC
Heavens like an Eagle in search q
his prey, all at once, he scoops down
On Fritz with his machine guns
reloads and repeats the dose as often
il the cnemy's ranks, darts tack UP
makes about twenty five blank files,
an he likes.
It was only just recently that I
realized the task of the balloon man
Who goes Up for observation purpos-
IS using powerful glasses so that he
may see all that transpires near the
enemy's lines, to me it seemed like
pleasure trip, but just few even
ings ago I reached other conclusions
I was sitting in my dug out door writ
ing to the folks at home hearing the
boom of the anti air craft guns in
the distance drew my attention to
what was happening not far away, I
was just in time to see one of ,Fritz's
planes come out Of a cloud just a.
hove an observation balloon, belong
ing to the Allies, Shooting tracer
bullets into it from machine gun
soon had it in flames, the men in it
1.-The balloon jumped out with their
parachutes, the men scarcely escap-
ci the flames OF the falling balloon,
this did not satisfy the Boche a%ia-
tors, so they made another circle
opening fire on the parachutes, it is
very exciting to see a thing Of that
Kind as we'll as to watch the air bal
Ties between Boche and Allied planes
Shells arc passing overhere at all
times humming and whining as they
r.sS over our heads, when first we
hear them the hum is high pitched
and gradually becomes lower in
pitch until they land, it is interest
ing, but not always pleasant to
Judge where they land, from expcr-
;2nce we know it takes but one to do
{: lot of damage.
The only two Highland boys in
his Bait, are Roy Graham and Will
lie Benson, the latter being in the
hospital OF this writing, with rheum
atism, but is getting along fine.
Well, as my candle is getting
short must bring my letter to
close, will write again soon. We
sre all anXiously awaiting the end
CT tic great war, when we may be
permitted to do as we wish and not
he under restrictions of the army, I
i2r one will welcome the time when
! may be among all my friends once
more. Wishing the Recorder and
it's many readers success and happi-
ness, | am,
Sincerely yours,
Sgt. K. S. Dickson,
Co. B. 301st Bait.
10