The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-11
WAYNE COUNTY
SOLDIER WRITES
THRILLING STORY

Eve were on the front FIVE days and
surely did make some drive" writes
Clayburn McNutt, serving in France
with an infantry company. in a letter
to his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Harmon
McNutt.
Tell the boys" he adds, that the
last thing | saw Of the Germans they
were running toward Berlin, and the
next time We go, we will go there
too"
The letter follows:
August 8, 1918.
Dear Folks at Home:
1t has been some time since have
got letter from home, have only got
one since have been in France. so
you may know I am anxious to hear
from you, and find out how everything
is at home. We have been moving
around SO much it is hard for letters
to find us.
Well, they didn't hold us boys long
after we got over here, we were at
the front in less than month after
we got here. We just got back. and
] tell you / am lucky to be able to
write you this letter. We were on
the front FIVE days and sure did make
some drive. wish could tell you
all about 1t, but you know that is
impossible.
There isn't any Of the home boys
in the same company with me, so |
don't know whether they got through
all right or not. l expect you have
been looking for letters every day; I
wish / could write and get letters
often. but you know we don't always
have the chance. expect have lot
OF letters on the way. but they may
never find me.
We are at a rest camp now and We
sure enjoy resting, and being back
where we can't hear those big guns.
My experience since have been in
France is worth a lot, but some of 1t
was anything but pleasant, but I do
not mind that, IL ever get back.
! have a lot OF souvenirs which I got
off the Dutchmen, l want to bring
home with me.
They haven't got the sand to face
us Americans We would wade right
through the machine gun fire when
the bullets were coming like hail, and
when We got within fifty yards Of them
you ought to see them run.
don't think there is very many Of
us who got back but what had bullet
holes through his clothes some place.
I got my helmet caved in once. and II
II hadn't been for 1t. | wouldn't have
been writing this letter, and ! had a
hole shot through my pack. 1t hit
my mess kit and glanced of. Out
side OF couple Of blisters on my
feet I am as good as ever and hope
to return home some day and tell you
all about 1t. and believe me. will
have something to tell.
hope this letter finds every one
well. and l hope to stay here long
enough to hear from you. for | sure
would be glad to get letter and hear
some news from old Indiana once
more. We haven't been paid for three
months but they issue us smoking so
I don't need any money. I expect to
get. paid soon. though.
expect they are threshing the
wheat around there now. There Is
an awful lot Of wheat and rye raised
over here. but not any corn. The
wheat isn't cut yet. The weather Is
fine over here; don't expect 1t Is
quite so hot as 1t is in Indiana.
Tell the boys the last I saw OF the
Germans they were running toward
Berlin. and the next time We go, we
will go there too am sending in this
letter piece Of German money I got
from a harmless Dutchman. He was
dead. though.
don't expect you can read this let
ter. am sitting on wheelbarrow
writing It.
CLAYBURN G.. McNUTT,
Company X, 18th Infantry.
A. E. F., France.