The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-06-10
NORWOOD WRITES
 OF LIFE IN FRANCE

Sergt. Dave Norwood of Birmingha n, 1s7th infantry. medical department, has written the following to one of his friends on The Age-Herald staff:
 France. Somewhere Else, May 19, lalS
 Dear Friend: Just received some mall today, and among the letters was one from our friend, Roy Kay. also card from Griffin around at Parker's. Y,u cannot imagine how much ] do love to hear from Alabama and my old friends; that's where I get my real dope, or course, I get letters from all parts CT the states, but my heart goes back @ good old Alabama and my many friends there. But one day in little town tn some otter part of France l did make this statement. I believe l have as many friends here as I have back home. It was Just recently that 1 was back there c, detail work. and I would like to say ths. I have never been treated better in all my life. Of course, they are not the richest people in France, but they gave ne the best they had and they ai- nc st went wild when I gave them some EuJ Durham smoking tobacco. It is very scarce with them over here. l only spent one day and night With them, but they will never be forgotten by me as long as I Eve. The afternoon I left G.! the young ladies kissed me good-by qua all the old people gathered around ana wished me all kinds of good luck, and as l walked out of this little village l hal to stop and look back, and as I stool there gazing back at this peaceful little village was just thinking what a wol- derful impression the first American sol. diers had left with these people.
 This trip gave me the opportunity of seeing just lots of this beautiful coun try. The roads are fine, with sign- boards at each crossing to guide the travellers. laere is no 'aar ce to ge, lost. On our way an old lady ran vpt and stopped us, and to our great slr- prise she was a real American woman, born and raised in Frisco. Believe me, we almost talked our selves hoarse. She and her husband were more than glad to see us. They said what wonderful boys you are to come way over here to help win this war that the world might be free.
 Since I wrote you last I have done several hitches in the trenches, and, be- lieve me, we have sure been giving tie Bosche merry h. with only small loss to our command. Serving in the trenches cannot be explained very well on paper; it's sensation that every one must zee fer himself. I never thought it could get so dark in the trenches. 1t seems that every light in the world IS out. Oniy now and then a star shell goes up ever No Mans Land Then 1t reminds me of Broadway, and if you arc wnere the Boeche can see you it's time to hug mother earth andc hug her tigh., because ,ts a safe bet some Bosche ma chine gun will turn loose. Then more bullets will bass over your head than you can count in day. have thought many times ould see the folks at home draw in;s my Insurance. Gets laughD l have learned to fall down more ways than country boy can come to town. Several times I have been caught on the roads that were Icing shelled by the Boschs. and it's always the safe plan to lay down. Then there IS not much danger from the shrapnel. Our dug-outs are sf lendid. with all kinds of protection from gas and bullets.
 "I must admit that we are having some good times back in our rest billets- Tins afternoon three neighboring ban1s came over here and we sure had some swell music One of these bands has l bunch of good singers. One of them sure mace hit with the boys when he sans. "Tncsc wild, wild women are 90 ing to make a wild man out of me- some song. We also had four of rhs tastes. boxing matches that have seen since arri, ing over here, though we have them every afternoon. And last night as I began writing to you one of the boys nm in and said: Come downstairs; toute de suite: there are some real American ladies downstairs. I ran into my gas mask like firehorse used to get into his harness. and almost fell out the stairs. It was too much of sight for some of the boys. so they began to sing; T got the home sickness blues" They were Red Cross nurses; just made lit tie surprise call to say hello to us. They sang some real good songs. They suf c made hit with every one when they sang, .I don't want to get we'll" They also ianced with the officers. but we had the opportunity of watching them. and that was great. They all wore their sas masks. Does look strange to see them walking around with gae mask swung