The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-12-19
spRIyATE JOE JACKSON WRITES
OF THRILLS IN BATTLE, AND
TELLS OF PAINFUL INJURY

Under date of November IL, Private
Joseph jackson wrote very interest
ing letter to Capt. Parker of the
Home Guards in which he graphically
pictures the activities of the Shock
troop of which he was member. He
tells of Is days at the front and of a
machine gun bullet he received in his
right lung; as well as of the splendid
care he is receiving at the base hospi-
tai. His letter follows:
Somwhere in France, Nov. Is, 1918.
Capt. Parker and members of the
Home Guards:
l have been going to write you a
letter ever since l entered Uncle
Sans service, but person always
finds some thing to do when he has a
few minutes to spare.
have not had much news from the
states since came to France. have
been moving around every few weeks
and therefore have not gotten any
mail.
Some of the boys here at the hos
pital received letters the other day
written from the states in July. l
found a Minneapolis Tribune one day
dated July 20. Say l read it over So
many times learned it by heart. So
if any one wants to know what eggs
sold for on July 20, they can ask me,
as 1 sure know.
Well, Captain, I have had some
great experiences since came to
France. l was transferred from the
division l came over~here with and I
was put in a division of Uncle Sans
Shock Troops. The experiences had
were not very pleasant by a long
ways. We were up at the front Is
days the last time. And we went over
the top after the Huns many times
during this time.
You should have seen the Huns beat
it. We had them on. the run over the
hills and through woods. We also
took lot of prisoners. =
The German prisoners looked as if
they were glad. They came along
calling US Komrad, Komrad. But /
never >seen a Hun yet that was any
friend of mine. ;
am now at the American Base
hospital. On my fifteenth day at the
front we went over the top about 6:15
a. M, and the Germans were waiting
for us with machine guns all set. We
had advanced down hill about so
feet and I was then hit with a ma
chine gun bullet. The bullet entered
my right breast going through my
lung and coming out through my
shoulder blade. / fell to the ground
and as soon as could crawled back
into a large shell hole where would
be more safe. The bullets were sure
lighting pretty lively around there. I
called for first aid but there were no
first aid men around just then Our
Major came walking by in few
minutes and when he saw me he told
me to lay still and that it would not
be long before l would get first aid.
A few minutes later the Major was
killed by machine gun bullet. laid
in the shell hole for about two hours,
and no help came. I was getting
pretty weak as the blood was running
out of my back and my lung was CIV
ing me great pain. could not stay
in the shell hole any longer, so l
crawled out and got part way down
the hill
After a few minutes one of the men
from our company came along with
five German prisoners. He was tax
ing them back to ivisional head
quarters. So they helped me and got
me over to the dressing station. Here
I had my wounds dressed and had
about an hours rest while was wait
ing for some observation-disclosures. was
then carried for about two and a
half miles to the first aid station
where I was given an injection OF
morphine to ease my pain. was then
put in an ambulance and taken to
the hospital. It was about 1915 when
D. m. when 7 arrived at the hospital;
there were several Of my friends at
the hospital who were wounded that
same morning.
Say Captain, when ! found myself
ia real bed at the hospital had to
look it over several times to make
sure it was true. I had not seen a
bed for so long that / had forgotten
all about sleeping in beds while up at
the front. Had much pain and did
not sleep much hthe first week I was
at the hospital. am feeling much
better now and getting the best kind
Of care.
It is about month ago since ] was
wounded. expect it will take me a
long time to recover but expect to be
all right in time. am walking
around little each day now.
Well, expect everybody is happy
back in the good old city, now that the
war is over. The French sure give
the Americans credit for it over here.
The day Germany signed the Armstice
the Americans and French paraded
the streets from morning till night
signing all kinds of national songs
and the French were shouting Am