The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-04-29
ASSIGNED TO THE io2D.
Lieut.. Neale W. Hooker Also Writes of
Seeing Many Vermont Boys.


A letter dated March p and Just re-
ceiyed by Mr.. aud Mrs b. W, Hooker
from their son, Lieut.. Neale w. Hooker,
tells of his assignment to Co. II, l02d Y.
S, infantry, the troops which recently
have been receiving their baptism Of fire
In France. Lieut.. Hooker writes;
much has happened since my last let
ter and | will try and tell you all about
IL, After leaving school, ! went up TO a
little town and who should | run onto
but the l0lst Ammunition Train made
up mostly OF the old LIST VI. infantry.
Maybe ] wasn't pleased kid to see so
many fellows that knew. Frank Hatch
who used to be in Headquarters Co,
Lieut.. Nelson, classmate OF mine at
Norwich, aud who was in Headquarters
Co., Gates. another classmate of mine,
Mike Cerasoli, Hunt, who used to live
with the BARRIERS, and several others. ]
had just the best time with them and
got a temporary assignment with them
while awaiting my permanent assign
ment
This train is made up of motor cars.
mot otorcyeles and horse edrawn wagons ard
caissons. | was attached to one of the
horse outfits under Capt. Cory of New
port VT, and Maj. Ashley of Burling
ton, so you see | was right at home. We
had about six hundred new horses come
in from the states and had a great old
time with them. II was Just the kind
of work that / liked
However, as | said, it was only tenn
porary and last night | got my orders
TO report to the commanding officer of
the l02d infantry of the Goth division
otherwise called the Yankee dvisionl |
Came up on a motor truck from the
Train this morning and re-
ported. | am now assigned to Co. II, |
l02d L. S. infantry, A. +. F., France, |
which is my new address. II seems pret
ty good to know that | am at last def
nitely placed where / can get down to
work and use some of the knowledge
hat have gained in ninemonths' school
ng; because even fool can get some
hing out of that much teaching.
After reporting | had little talk
with Col. Parker, c. o. of this regiment,
who appears to be very fine man The
company in which | was assigned is
made up of National Guardsmen from
mostly from around Hart
ord and Waterbury. haven't happened
o run into a soul that | know here, f,
With the exception of a lieutenant in
ny company, who went TO the T. V. NJ. i
nd played football and baseball. His I
anne is Linnehan. 1t makes it rather ]
ice for both of us, and he is a mighty |
ne chap.
This town is typical French town,
7hich the Americans have taken charge !
f, cleaned up and gotten ready for our
roops. II is not very large for the
tates but is considered quite a city for
hese parts.
1T might interest YOU to know that
~ company has the best record in the
!. J.. F.-one lieutenant and about TWEEN
= men have received the Croix de Guerre
-om the French government and have
cen in divisional orders; so you see |
ave got my work cut out to help keep
p the reputation.
"The town where the American Train 5
and where | was is one of the most -
aautiful and picturesque that ] have q
zen in France A large church and s.
any chateaus are in or just around the o
'wn. took some very interesting rides d
1t into the country to visit some of d
ese chateaus which are usually perched II
top or on the side of a hill and can m
seen for miles away. They certainly p
e finely kept up even now by caretak p'
$, while the owners are either in the .
my or down in the south of France,
here the weather is so fine this time r
the year. Some of these chateaus
we been taken over by the French and
merican governments and used for bill
ing and numerous generals that go
in their limousineS Yes bv tho
ay, Sec. Baker went through here to-day OF
To-day has been awfully rainy and
but ought not to complain
cause we have been having fine wealth
for the last two or three weeks. just
nice and warm as summer, but to-
y colder than Greenland