Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1918-05-02

Headquarters Advanced Section,
Service of SUPPLIES, American Expedis
tionary Forces, March %, 1918.
My Friends Bartlett & Wigges:-
Comment allez vous? Or in other
words, how the Hell are you? Greet
ings from France. I've been intend
ing to write you ever since / left Ex-
irt but somehow never got it done
Possibly by this time Burt is in the
army. or has had his examination at
least Did Emil have to go or was
he exempted? Suppose you knew
Milo is in the Coast Artillery Corps
out in Washington not far from home.
AS Perry is in training in Kansas,
Milo in the C. A.C., I'm in France, and
another brother is probably in the ar
my (although we haven't heard from
him for a long time) the folks are be-
ginning to think they raised ALL their
boys to be soldiers.
Right off, before forget it, Pm go-
ing to say that the picture of Emily's
baby which she gave me to keep
while she went to town. was either
lost or left in my room at your place.
I'm very sorry about it but l went
through my effects thoroughly on sew
eral different occasions and failed to
find the photo or the film. left in
structiones at home to send it on to
you if the folks ever ran across it, bit
they've never mentioned finding it.
Probably you're little curious to
know what I've been doing since I
left the Middle West for the Pacific
Coast Well. spent a couple of
weeks en- route, stopping off at such
places as Omaha, Cheyenne Billings,
and arrived home early in September.
| visited around till the 18th of Sep.
tember and went over to one of the
big camps and enlisted October 25th
| we hiked east, five train loads, to
Camp Mills on Long Island, N Y.
!. where we were outftted had the d. G.
National Guard put into our regiment
and then filed up with drafted men to
the regular size. Then no for this
side.
Our trip over was uneventful. Did
not see single sub, had nice weather
most of the time, and as I wasn't a bit
seasick had one of the darnedest ap-
petites that ever comes across. Five
meals was nothing at all for one day,
and such meals, that salt air certainly
makes the well men eat, and just the
opposite effect on those subject to sea
sickness. When we landed at one of
| the old French harbors or rather when
we pulled into it, thought it was just
about as fine scenery as I ever saw.
and I've been around quite a few in
my day, too. The hills We're all green
and the countour of the country made
L
of travelling around so that 1 got to
see a lot of France. and have seen a
great deal more of it since we got off
the train. was with the company
| just three weeks after we got into our
Ecamp when i was sent UP to these
headquarters on detached service,
twhefe was made the Company Clerk
for the Headquarters Company. "A
few days ago 4 was detailed to this Of
fee (office Of the Post Commandant)
to act as sergeant major,
France is a grand old place. l like
the people and have enjoyed myself
over here very much. The country
is very. very beautiful, so picturesque
and scenic. have been around the
U. S. A. lot and seen some of the
most celebrated scenery we, have on
that side. but nothing ever saw on
that side can compare with the view
to be had from the very town where
l am now stationed. have been in
q great number of towns and small
cities and find them all very quaint.
The houses all come out to the sstrsst
or else they are walled in with the
Iwall- running up SO that one soannot
lseeT over it, But in the middle of the
lblock; behind the houses are to be
found the yards. beautiful gardens
I.sar p g. : -.s
trees ;etc. Where | am now is more
of farming country than any other
part have yet visited, that is it is a
farming country as the middle ives,
knows it. grain. stock .dairying, hut
practically no vineyards. There is g
l.live stock market day here every two
or three weeks and am enough inter
ested in stock to thoroughly enjoy
myself mixing with the farmers ant
getting into arguments with then
i about tho mar-ito Of their stock