Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-01-10
Landed in France +;
Before Christmas s
Bob Work Jr., Tell of Safely
of Passing Through Wax
Zone Thanksgiving

The first CT the Langdon boys to De
heard from since reaching France is
Robert j. Work, who res sponded to the
draft last ial!, going first with the
Montana contingent to American
Lake camp, in the state Of Washing
ton and shortly afterwards being
transferred to the Atlantic coast for
training in the signal corps. They left
this country for the fighting front the
middle of November, and from the
interesting letter that follows appear
to be enjoying the experiences Of a
soldiers life as far as he has gone.
The letter is written to his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Work. of Har-
vey Center, and the Democrat is per-
mitteu to publish much of it that will
be of interest to many of our readers:
Somewhere In France, Dec. 10.
Am feeling fine. We arrived O. k.
and had very gond trip, although l
was very glad to see land, supposing
it was Europe. This letter will not
explain few of the things that you
would like to know, but for the
safety of carrying on our transporta-
tion of troops l am unable to go into
details, reserving this part of the
story until I am back again. l rather
enjoyed the trip over. never got the
least bit seasick. Our sleeping quar-
ters were fairly comfortable and the
weather was fairy good, only expert
encing one storm and that was on
Thanksgiving Day when it was so
rough that the good dinner that we
had in sight was pretty badly mussed
up However, we came out all right
| might tell you how we had turkey
and real plum pudding for dinner,
both of which tasted very good out
in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean
Oaz iaess is not extra good, but we
are not working any. 80 we get along
fine there are so many eating out of
one kitchen-that is the main reason !;
there being about thirteen hundred
men and only one kitchen.
| We used salt water to wash with
but you can't get very clean and it
is hard on the skin when you are not
used to it.
Neil Reid is with me to night he is
reading, having finished his letters
this morning. He was pretty sick for
a few days but got over it again and
feels fine now. Some of the boys were
sick all the way across-it was
pretty hard on them.
The people of France seemed to be
glad to see US, at least they cheered
us enough to signify it. 1t seems
strange to be here after leaving such
a short time ago, but it is true. l
expect Stewart will be coming before
very long. He will be at the same
place I am as far as / know. 1t
seems hard to write. l have had no
word from Langdon since l left. 1
had few lines from Donald the day
l left Camp Mills. He sent it in
Stewart letter.
Only fifteen more shopping days
before Christmas, 1 can not believe it
myself. They have sure moved me
along and l would not take small
amount for my sights and experiences
as far as / have gone. 1t was kind
of ticklish going through the war zone
but we made it fine, no trouble at all.
Say, | want you to send me some.
thing to eat if you can, slso some to-
bacco, it is very scarce here and
American stamps and some stationery
things like that are very scarce here
t'.ey claim. Listen now, l do not
want you and father to worry at all
as | am fine. hope this finds every
body and everything back there tine.
The French people on the pier sang
the Tipperray song in English for US
when we landed. 1t sounded pretty
good too.
Say hello to everybody for me l
will close in wishing you all GA
Merry Christmas and A Happy New
Year, - With love to all Your Son,
Robert Work, Jr.
Address: Co c.. 1l6th Field Bat
Signal Corps, American Expeditionary
Forces. France via New York.
T. S.-This is real address, isn't
it? Will write YOU again soon