Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-09-26
Lieutenant Mason's Last Letter.
From the Richmond, (Va.,) News
etter NJ Sentember 10Th we take the

herdstown. The Newsletter says:
The following letter is the last one
received by the family Of the late Lieu-
tenant Randolph F. Mason, OF Rich
mond, killed in action in France July
20, while serving with the l03rd ma
chine gun company. Tenth Regiment.
The letter bore date Of June 10 and
spoke Of heavy fighting. II was ad-
dressed to Rev. DR.. Landon R. Mason,
rector emeritus Of Grace Episcopal
Church here, the father Of the dead SOL
dier. In his letter to his father, which
was not written for publication, Lieu
tenant Mason told how, following hot
action by his company in an exposed
position, he had been complimented by
| his captain for his coolness under fire.
Those who knew Lieutenant Mason are
aware that, OF his many lovable traits,
modesty was a conspicuous attribute.
His letter, written to his aged father,
was meant only for home reading. DR..
Mason, however, agreed to release it for
publication. II reads as follows:
American Y. M. c. A.,
On Active Service with the
American Expeditionary Force,
| June 10, 1918
Dear Old Pops-I cannot put my ad-
dress on this letter, as couldn't then
send the enclosed clipping, for the two
together would give information. The
clipping is from the Paris edition OF
the New York Herald, and gives an
outline OF my first experience in battle.
This took place on Sunday last, begin
ming at dawn and lasting all day and
night.
had my four machine guns in
nasty open position just back OF the
first line. For two hours we were un-
der very heavy shrapnel fire and much
gas and had to work the guns with our
gas masks on We fred only 1000
rounds in about ten minutes, which was
our only active part in the fight, but the
sitting still and being fired at for more
than two hours, with waves OF gas re-
peatedly coming over, was much more
trying. Most Of the men almost like the
experience Of actual fighting, but hang
ing on under heavy fire which We could
Mt answer was what took nerve to 60
through with.
Four men OF the company had to 60
to hospital from shell shock, which is
a sort OF acute nervous breakdown. A
number more went from gas, several
were killed and others more or less
seriously wounded. The excitement
kept me bouyed up, so that did not
realize that went two days and a
night without sleep until it was all over,
and then slept like log.
| had to 60 several miles through
the trenches next day on message, but
the excitement Of the fight kept me
from realizing what horror it was to
see dead men lying around and the
wounded being carried of the field.
During the course Of the fight | was
obliged to 60 from one Of my gun en-
placements to another, and on the way
in hollow behind a clunp Of trees,
which the enemy evidently thought was
screen for heavy guns, they put down
heavy 1re Of shrapnel and high ex-
plosive through the trees, beginning as
got about half way through. lay
close in behind a dirt embankment,
which then seemed very low and mad
equate, and spent very uneasy twen-
ty-five minutes. The men hung on like
veterans in the emplacements, and act
ed like the rest OF the American troops
that is, like brave men and hard
fighters.
Had quiet Monday and Tuesday,
but all today we have had gas attacks
and constant high explosive fire on us,
so that it is very hard to get from head
quarters to other positions. A high ex-
| plosive shell landed on the headquar-
tiers dugout while was doing some pa
per work with our top sergeant. The
concrete work was so solid that we got
nothing worse than a shake up and lots
| OF noise
Well, | must tell you for family con-
sumption only-as it is ridiculous brag
| ging to talk about such things except
as they would please you to hear about
one OF the family-the captain came
down after the unpleasantness was over
and shook hands with me and told me he
was pleased with the way | kept my
head under fire, and also for some re-
connaissance work which did on my
own initiative. My sergeant and men
also told me they would be glad to work
with me, as they knew after the fight
that would "stick" II certainly did
give me lot OF pleasure. The whole
regiment was commended for gallantry
and for fierce fighting when il repulsed
the enemy attacks from picked troops.
1t certainly was forlorn little shall
low gun emplacement with only cam
outage top that was in most OF the
time, and without having men Of such
grit, don't know whether would have
stuck or not
Well, must get back to my guns for
the night. 1t promises to be quieter
for awhile now, so don't worry. II often
goes for two or three weeks here with
only occasional raids and light artillery
fire.
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