The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-07-10
CAVETT
With RESERVES
Percy cavett, Son Of Mr.. and Mrs. N.
P. Cavett, Now With Reserves
Company Kept on the Move.
SOUND LIKE CALLAHAN"
Boys From Down in Alabama Say
Singing Of Shells Remind
Them Of Home.


Singing Of Shells Remind
Them Of Home.
The following letter dated June 8,
has been received by Mrs. N. P. Cav
EFT from her son, Percy, who is now
located. with Company B, 168th Inf,
France. Percy was one of the Deni-
son boys who enlisted in Company B
and was located at Ida Grove last
He was one Of the few boys
chosen from that camp to accompany
the Rainbow Division to France. Deni-
son friends will enjoy reading of his
experiences "oYar there.l
June g., 1918.
France.
My dear Mother:
Well, this is Sunday and as l have
plenty of time, will write you let
ter. received your letter Of May
20, and the one from Elsie dated May
16, last night. so / will make this let
ter long one and answer all the
letters have received from you all
recently.
I received long letter from Percy
Duncan the other day. He is feeling
fine but said he would like to hear
from us quite often and would like to
see us once in a while but as he is
with another outfit, the chances are
very small. n
We have a fine camp here. It is in
the woods; not the same one, how.
ever, that spoke of before. We have
not done anything since we came
here but must be ready at all times
to move. We are what are called
reserves and may be called at any
time, but we seldom stay in one place
very long. We keep moving at least
once a week, so you see we are
travellers proper and never have a
home very long, thus we cannot accu-
mulate very much but travel as light
as possible as we have to carry all
we have and a lot that belongs to
Uncle Sam. That is why we do not
have anything but what is absolutely
necessary. Can you imagine one car.
rying all he has and has had for four
on his back and marching for
about ten miles at a time? But fel-
low In the army doesn't use or need
much. fs'a'sss' 6 .ss33 .:s Il n
L saw Bill Wearmouth the other
night and he was getting ready to 60
up to the front line and is feeling fine.
We received the Review and Bulle.
tin the other night but don't re-
the date on them.
l am sending our Regimental paper,
you can get more things out of it that
will interest you. l hope you will
soon receive the "Stars and Stripes" +"
that paper l mentioned before.
We have not had any rain here for
so long and the sun is rather strong
The roads are very dusty but the
gardens and fields look fine. It is
the kind of weather that France is
noted for. It is not like we had when
we first came up in this part of
France in February.
l know just how Eldor feels. There
was fellow in our Company at Ida
Grove (and he is still with us) who
would get high fever every time he
was vaccinated or got shot in the
arm and his knee would stiffen and
he would be quite sick. Just. about the
time he would be getting better, he
would get another shot and to bed he
would go. He was that way until we
reached New York. but now sickness
never bothers him and he has not been
sick day and feels good and stands
the kicks as we'll as the best. He
felt worried about it too, and wished
he had never enlisted, but now he is
glad he did. know of other fellows
who were affected by the shots in the
arm, but when they are all taken,
they never have any more trouble. I
expect that will be the way with
Eldor, so tell his folks not to worry.
If I had his address l would write
to him, for everything will be all
right in a very short time.
This is Elsie's part of the letter.
enjoyed the program you sent me
very much. I bet it was good and
that the H. S. felt that they were do
ing their bit. expect that Robert
has real snappy salute. That is the
first thing they teach a soldier.
If you will notice the cartoons of
the paper, you will see the fellow get
ing down when big 210 comes over.
You sure should see me when hear
one coming. They sound funny. The
boys from Alabama say that the big
shells say: "Ala. ........... !. .bam."
The prospects for peace look good
10 me. I guess the boche finds that
the American boys are better fighters
han they thought they were, at least
hey have been showing up somewhat.
Well this is quite a long letter so
will close. Hoping you receive it
Ill right, with love,
As ever,
Percy Cavett,
Co. B, 16Sth Inf,
e.. A. E. F., via New York.
IOE aIESEp WpIrEc