The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-09-27
Our Soldier Boys
Aug. 4, 1918.


perfect health after going thru what
we have in the past month. We have
been in one of the worst sectors on the
entire front and under artillery fire al
most constantly for two weeks. |
thought that | had the horrors of war
so pictured in my mind when / entered
1t that it would not seem so bad but it
IS impossible for the human mind to
conceive what war really is until one
Is in the midst of it and then it seems
more like night mare than reality.
If the people in the states could be
made to realize that at this very mo-
ment and every moment that passes
during this war thousands of their boys
are falling wounded on the battlefield
and are grateful even for a drink of
water, they would not have the heart
or time for trivial matters.
One witnesses all kinds of scenes
but some make a deeper impression
than Others. One affair will always
remember was when a man came to
our station and reported that his friend
had been wounded for hours and of
course we had squad detailed to carry
in on litter and | was the First aid
man" to 20 with the squad. when we
had gone about a mile we found the
poor fellow under bridge and he turn
ed to me saying. Help me doctor,
please" He was shot thru the lungs
and bandaged him up the best could
yet knew there was very little chance
for him but was just going to place
himon the litter when another man
came over toreport thathe had frinnd
wounded and needed attention so | ran
over to him abont twenty yards distant
and found that he had clean wound in
the back and could be saved if cotton
to the ambulance in time. So there |
was with problem to decide, that in
Volved human life, which man must !
carry back on the litter? placed the
man with the lesser wound on the lit
ter and left the other poor fellow after
doing all | could for him and telling
him we would be right back. We got
back as quickly as possible but it was
too late as the man had died while we
were gone. 1t was almost relief
when fonnd that he had died for then
| knew had acted for the best.
had my first experience with a shell
shock man few days ago. | had TO
go out uader fire to get whatI thought
was wounded man and instead found
a man lying in a ditch jumping and
lodging every time shell burst near
him, he was simply nearly crazy from
fear Of shells. caught hold of him
and got him to walking along nicely
telling him we were going to a good
safe dugout, but when a shell came
close to us he would fall to the ground
again and again which made it all the
more dangerous for me, then too he
was doing what | felt like doing, but
could not, SO Iapicked up a big brick
and drew it back and told him he had
better be afraid of me instead of the
shells. This had the desired effect and
we finally reached the station.
AT the present time we are at a
rest camp but no furloughs are being
granted so | do not know how long we
will be here. Hobbie went to the hos.
pital slightly gased bat 1t is nothing
serious. A man is extremely lucky
when he gets slight wound and has
"a chance to go to hospital Tor cure.
In fact man is considered lucky with
minor trouble such as the loss of
leg or arm.
have had the satisfaction Of seeing
number Of dead Germans and it cer-
tainly does one good to see them when
they are on the run. | am enclosing
paper which may help to convey to
you where have been as cannot tell
you.
This war impresses upon man what
significant being be is without Gods
aid and 1t makes US all call on Him for
courage to do our duty. That is my
prayer to always be able to do my du-
ty and nothing moreo o. less. One cares
nothing for honors or medals if 3 place
like this.
The Germans have no respect for our
Red Cross as was demonstrated plainly
few DAYS ago when one OF our men
went to the rescue Of wounded officer
under fire of sharp shooters and held
up his arm to show the Red Cross on
it. but it cost the poor fellow his life
for placing this much confidence 10 q
live German as he was picked off inn
mediately
We can only hope and pray that this
wsr viii not last thru the winter but
III -.