The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-12-26
BITS FROM OVER THERE.

Earl L. Learned writes to his father,
0. d. Learned, of Rural route No. 4 as
follows:
Since August 1917 when 7 was
home last on furlorgh till landed
here in the hospital yon may be sure
we had a busy time. OF course my out
fit is still busy but it would mt be. fair
to say we now as I haven t had
hand in our company's work for some
time.
Our last drill days in the states seem
ed quite strenuous and hard going,
which Of course at that time really was
but since then we we made those days
look like play.
We went aboard ship at Philadelphia
the oath Of Oct. 1T and pulled out be-
fore daylight the next morning. After
day or two out we run back into New
York for coal and then for six long days
laid and looked at the statue of Liber-
ty in the face. (Oh! for that same old
look again. We finally left New York
the S1st Of October. Our journey across
was quiet, for the most, excepting one
collision and couple submarine scares.
We landed at Brest the 18th Of Novem-
Der. We didn't go ashore excepting
little hike around the town and a few
miles around till the 10Th. That day
we loaded on side door pullmans and
come down to Bordeaux where we spent
about two months working and doing
guard duty. The work was httls Of
everything, building railroads, work
ing on docks,etc. We left here the first
or second week in January and went
to.a training camp near Damblain lit
tie town not for from the Swiss bor-
der. After 8 couple months of stiff
training in the area we went into the
trenches just little south Of Yer
dun. We were the first American
troops in that sector so you may be
sure that the Trenches gave us the
once over pretty proper, but Of course
were very glad to see us. From then
on our outfit have been right in the
front with but the exceptions Of very
few days. Our first real fighting though
didn't come about till the first Of
june when we met the Huns and stop
ped their advance at Chateau-Thierry.
That is gone and about forgotten now
by those who have followed the war and
front by the news papers back home but
/ III tell you Dad I we not and won t as
long as I live ever forget the first day
we met them face to face and stayed SO
till they decided they didn't like our
looks and turned their back on US which
must say looked much better to us
fellows. That turning took some time
though and we lost many nights sleep
in succession and were late for our
meals several times. But we, won out,
SO we didn It figure as we lost anything
In that way. Our losses were the very
best pals and comrades we could ever
have.
After over six weeks here, in and
around Chateau Thierry, that is to the
left in Belleau wood which you no
doubt read some about and know that
the French now call it the FtLa Bots
De La Marine or easier to say Mar
inc Woods we went further to the
left back of Scissors where we started
in all over again the 18th Of July. We
were about three miles from Scissors
the morning Of July 10Th and advanc-
ing at fair rate when was struck by
shrapnel. That was my last time over.
They shipped me back to JULY little
town north Of Paris where I was oper-
ated on.
| was there about ten days and then
shipped down here to Base 8 at Bor-
deaux. So here am about five miles
from my first home in France after a
year not soon TO be forgotten. I've
been through Paris three or four times
but never had chance to see the
city as I'd like to.
do not know how much longer III
be here. My wound does not heal up
very fast and don't believe I could
stand much duty till it is healed. Let S
hope it viii not be necessary for any
of us to be over here on duty much
longer anyway