The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-12-04
Minus Leslie Hunt, France

N l.. Hunt has handed us the fol-
lowing letter which he received lately
from his son, Leslie, who was killed
in action October 10th. The letter,
which was written the 18th, is no
doubt the last letter that Leslie wrote
to his father Leslie went with a
draft contingent from Salt Lake City
in August, after he had been rejected
several times when he tried to enlist.
He suffered an injury to one, of his
ankles some time ago, when he fell
down an elevator shaft in Salt Lake
City, and was rejected on account OF
this injury, which is the one he re.
|fers to in the letter, when he speaks
|of having to fall behind his company
Fin marching.
~ II; 100 Oct. II, 1918. Il
Dear Papa and All:
Well, we have moved again and |
have finally found little paper. This
move was real one. never want to
make another like it, and never will.
We made this one entirely by hike
and at night. got by the first night,
but the second was too long and hard.
l had to drop out about / a. m. and
had plenty of company. We did not
catch up with the company until the
next afternoon about two hours be-
fore they left for the trenches. | was
too, sick to go, but will go the next
time. We are now OH German soil
or rather what used to be. The Ger
mans held this territory for about ~
years and most of the residents speak
German. ! mean they cam but they
seldom do, unless in case OF neces
sity when we get stuck on French. In
my letter of September I'D | stated
that there was a rumOr OF mail. That
mail has arrived and your three let
tiers are at hand. l have not seen any
thing of the package you sent and
don't think | ever will. | believe the
mistake was made in your addressing
it, When ! first went to Camp Upton
l was assigned to the 47th Co. Then
| | was transferre dto the 29th Co. Both
of these companies were in the l52d
depot brigade. Then was transfer.
rid again, this time to the company
am now in. There are no companies
lat Camp Upton which are lettered,
they are all numbered. 1t seems fun.
ny that l got your letters 0. 4. but
not the package. Several boys have
got them all right, SO it is evident
that they are allowed overseas. Only
such necessities that cannot be OBJ
tanned over here or are not issued are
allowed. i have put in my claim for
the underwear, sweater and gloves
asked you to send so as to be sure OF
lgetting them.
While we were at the last place we
left learned accidentally that Hugo
and Martin Saggau and Glen Bos.
Tough were in the 313th supply train,
which is in this division. l walked
about six miles to see them on Sun.
day and they were greatly surprised
to see me. read letter that Bur-
ness wrote to Glen He is in hospi-
tai wounded and gassed. l am going
to write to him today. Leslie Heiden,
Glen Boslough, the two Saggau's and
a Carroll boy from Dow City are all
have seen from home. 1t is hard to
see any other companies because they
are always spread out too far. Did
you mean that Charley Seemann and
Frank Mccormick are lieutenants in
the SSth division? If SO will try to
see them. Be sure to answer this,
and try to make your letters longer.
Tell Margaret to write too, a letter
here means more than | can express.
Why was put on boat fifteen
days after was drafted, August 7th,
where there are so many boys home
yet, who have been in service year
or more, and are anxious to get over
here, is just one Of the million things
in the army that / can't understand.
Another one is this, before registra-
ton day I tried my level best in every
way possible to get into service in any
branch / was found to be unfit in
every case, but when l was finally
drafted / passed like top. / am not
fit now and my ankle bothers me. 1t
has never been right since went
down in the elevator at Salt Lake City.
I would have made the hike the other