The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-10-07
From Kernie Denton.

France, Sept. I, 1918.
Dear Mother:
1t has been almost ten days since 1
have even had a chance to mail YOU q
card. a may seem almost impossible.
but sure have been going some. When
| was in the hospital 1 heard through a
chaplain that my company was leaving
he mountains and that they would be
through the city that night. I mana ged
to get my clothes and I left the hos
pital. leaving all my equipment. All I
had with me was a few toilet articles
that a Red Cross map gave me. I rode
a few miles with some other outfit in a
hospital wagon and that night we camp
ed out in a big woods. We didn't stop
until almost midnight. 1 didn't have
any blankets and just out of the hos
pital. It is a wonder 1 did not get sick.
I used the sky and the stars for a
blanket and Mother Earth for a bed.
Ny effort was not in vain. for next
morning I found out that my company
was camping over in the other valley
and 1 Joined them. I sure was glad TO
get back. Everyone was very much
alarmed to see me, but I told them that
1 was all right and that my company
49, 80 6CAAS "a AK AtdfE me. Inc
supply sergeant called" me for losing
all my equipment. There were no ac-
commodations for sick, lame or lazy. so
I had to hike the rest OF the way. We
liked for three nights and rested some
IN the daytime. hen We stopped at a
big town to rest up two days. we
cleaned our equipment. washed and
shaved. Believe me 1 was all in. though
7 Gf1nFt ka--. = L,-I--I
like the rest OF the fellows. Some Of
the fellows had very sore feet and were
bleeding. A few couldn't make it. One
night We hiked in the rain with no rain
coats on. In all, I guess We made about
q hundred miles in the last ten days.
One morning about four we stopped
for a few hours rest near a hay field.
The hay was cut and IN small stacks.
I made a bed in one and covered up for
a nice sleep. About seven o'clock an
old lady came down to AXE In the hay.
She made one strike into my back with
an old rak and it sure scared me. I
jumped out and it scared the old LADY
worse than it did me. You couldn't see
her for the lust flying.
I had many experiences along the wav.
The people all along cheered US on.
yelling Tray bon Amercaini" and kids
yelling for cigarettes.
We are In a good sized dirty town
now. away out of the mountains. about
55 miles from the line. but I don't think
we will stay here very long.
This is Sunday and we had to drill
this morning. I was out doing some
signalling. 1t IS almost time for din
ner now. There seems to be no rest
for anyone now. We want to win this
war before it gets cbld weather.
Since cur company went over the
top and did such good work and we
were the first American soldiers of the
American E,xpeditionary forces to go CT
territory held by the Germans before
the war. they say we get a distinguished
service stripe. but 1 don't care if we
do or not. All I want is this thing
ended and to get back home. They can
have all their wound stripes and medals.
My medal is far from here in Indiana.
Mother. you remember that lack Ney
from Hammond. He was wounded seri-
ously. shot through the shoulder that
night. I am glad I am back and feeling
good again. The company is a little
sad now. Our good captain was pro-
J NOTED to major and we lost him and