The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-06-06
ORGANIZING A new UNIT
Tells Interesting Story of Experiences
Along the Firing Line and Praises
Bravery of the French and Cour-
age Of the Americans.

With barrel of yarns to tell and
six inches of narrow gold braid on the
sleeve of his uniform to Justify the
telling, Edward Gunderson, son of Mrs.
G. Gunderson of Marion avenue, has
returned to Kenosha, the old home
town, on fifteen day leave to visit his
mother before returning to France.
The gold braid mentioned, which is
tackled on the khaki sleeve in the shape
of V, is the first of it's kind to appear
in Kenosha and is the emblem that
means six months of service under the
American flag on the Western front.
Gunderson is as enthusiastic about
the war as he was when he first enlisted
under Pershing in the Mexican cam
paign. "Afraid of the subs9 ] should
say not! 1t is impossible for a U-boat
to sink an American transport ship, y
he declared, "Why we were attacked
three times coming over here and all
we did every time was speed ahead,
zig-zag, and open fire on 'em. If we
could knock off their periscopes that s
all that is necessary, for they can get
a range on us then. Every transport
ship has a flock of destroyers around
her and they investigate every stick
floating on the ocean. Nothing escapes
them. There is absolutely no dam
ger in crossing!"
Gunderson is chief Instructor in the
M TU M o+o. Two or, Sorvioo
a new department necessitated by the
lack of American railroads in France
and which is furnishing all American
transportation until the American rail
roads are built. In charge of eleven
men, he was recently sent to Texas to
organize unit of the M. T. S. in Fort
Sam Houston. After leaving here he
will complete his work in the south
and return to France in July, On the
completion of the unit in Fort Houston
he will receive the commission of first
lieutenant and will have charge of the
next unit he organizes in France.
He has yarns to tell that would fill
book. eff the Kenosha mothers only
knew how we'll their sons are being
treated they would have little cause to
worry. There is no limit TO food;
plenty of second helpings. The bread
is white and IS sold by the yard at
the rate of about fifty cents a length.
The Red Cross furnishes everything
soldier needs and his every comfort
is looked after
Gunderson told some amusing stories
about the French girls. They try 20
keep the Sammies from being lonesome
and are always ready to promenade
around the parks with them. Accord
ing to his tales the Americans are
Greek Gods in the eyes of the French
girls. Many of the boys are marrying
the little Nam 'selles in spite of the fact
that the officers discourage it as much as
possible and at times even forbid it.
1t is remarkable how the Sammies
are picking up the French language
Those who have been there for some
time speak fuently and help the new
corners around until they get acclimat
ed Last February Gunderson had the
pleasure of introducing Laurence East
man to the French cafes. Every time
he ordered something Laurence would
say, "What was that9" No doubt by
this time Laurence knows.
Gunderson can t say too much about
the Nash Quads. In his many trips
across France from the bases to the
trenches he has used every kind of
truck manufactured, but none are as
thoroughly satisfactory in every re-
spect as is the Nash. The French
roads are wonderful. "Just to illus
trate,n he said Sim my last trip
across France made four hundred and
thirty miles in one day. The roads are
smooth as glass and no bad spots"
He was indignant OF the remark
made that the American boys are be-
ing showed into the trenches as soon
as they arrive, without proper training.
"That $ German propaganda he de-
clared, every man receives his six
months of training before he sees a
firing line. They are first sent to a
training camp in southern France and
after a month or two are transferred
closer to the war zone, but they
arc perfect soldiers before they enter
the trenches.
''Every four months the boys are
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