Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-04-18
Serg't Radford's
Writes of Events
Tells of Seeing Secretary of
War Baker and Captain
Frank F. Ross
France, March II, 1918.

Patrick? And do you know that to
date have not received letter from
you addressed to France? l am just
lonesome at times for just few lines
from the home folks. Perhaps it was
because am feeling discouraged that
l have not written you since two
weeks ago. Still know that it is
no fault of yours. Today have been
wondering if Howard has been called
in the draft yet. 1t would be rather
nice if you could have one of us left
at home with you. Already it has
begun to seem long, long ago since
the day we left Langdon. The boys
all appear to have dream pictures of
the folks back home. One night the
picture came to me as l slept that us
Company E. boys were all back at
home on a two days furlough. l was
already impressed with the fact that
l had not become seasick and had lots
of things bought in France that was
bringing home with me as presents.
But it wes only dream.
Secratary of War Baker and Gene
raj Pershing were at the fort today.
This is the second time that l have
seen the commander in chief of the
American Expeditionary Forces. Sec
retary of War Baker is quite small
man az far as height goes, not be.
ing any taller than Jimmy Field.
Since we have got over here it
seems strange to see anyone in civil
ian clothes. We have got so used to
our uniforms that for my part l will
be ]oath to part with mine and
wear the everyday street attire of
home life after the war is over.
1t is nearly two months today since
we arrived in France and l dom t
believe there's one here that wouldn t
be more than satisfied if peace were
declared so that they could gain get
a glimpse of the folks back home.
Don't think we do not like army life
or that we are not being we'll treat
ed nothing more could be done for
US than Uncle Sam is doing right
now. We have everything we want
in every way. There is, however,
the tinge of uncertainty to this life
and then the thought of home and
the folks makes the longing for an
end of the war welcome to US again
and again.
l attended church this morning at
the Y. M. CA. The secretary of the
"Y' is from Montana. A splendid
man and more like a father to us
than anything else You can have no
idea of what an important part the
Y. M. c. A. is in our life over
here. They all have canteen, or
confectionery store, in which are sold
candy, cooked foods, nuts, tobaccos.
cigarettes and other luxuries for
men. They also furnish all our
amusements and entertainments as
we'll as look after the welfare and
proper living of the boys, There is
nothing that can take the place OF
the Y. M. C. A. in soldiers life.
The 1l6th Trench Mortar Battery
is progressing as we'll as can be ex
pected. l admit we have a lot yet tc
learn, but you can not fail to note
the change in the bows as week after
week goes by. A number of officers
have been attached to our battery to
instruct US and really under their
guidance the boys are becoming per
feet units of machine. 1t would do
the folks back home good to see them
Lineup for inspection. They Ger
tainly would feel proud of them. Our
commanding officer left yesterday.
going up nearer the front for instruc-
tiop and pointers of actual experience
under fire. He reminds me of "Bill
Stranger-one of those level headed
fellows who say very little but know
whole lot.
The other day got letter from
Captain Frank F. Ross. He is here
in France and is captain of the 324th
Bakery Company as well as being ir
charge of the commissary department
of certain district. His let ter stated
that Robert Stevenson and two of the
other Co. E. boys were on the same
transport with him when he came
over. He said that he tried to have
them transferred to his bakery com.
pany, but couldn't make the grade,
so l expect they will be coming over
to where we are soon. You have nc
idea how much Capt. Ross thinks of
US fellows and on our part we are
mighty glad to know that he has been
| oo wall taken care nf inn tho shake.