The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-10-02
LETTER FROM FRANK S. KELLER
Recommends Less investigations and
More Munitions.


front in France:
On active service with the American
Expeditionary Force, Sept. 2, 1918
Dear Folks: I've been kept very
busy the past week and haven't had
chance TODD any writing, We have
been back in rest camp for some
training during that timd and lave
Beat 'keht Dff the go all tkhI time from
morning 'rfff7night Wheh blight came
e9ehkdaytsI SXsAgP tired y do any;
sergeant of the guard anil have quite
"a little time TO myself, so will try to
make up for last time.
We came down from the lines a
week ago and came back to this place.
II lis quiet as church back here and
you would never know war was go
ing on.
In our last billets we were sheled
out a couple times and it was anything
but comfortable to lay in your bunk
and hear friend Jerry's Iron
foundrles" go' whistlrg over your
head or land near by. The whistle of
a shell is n weird sound and you'll
never forget it once you've heard il.
suppose you know that our divi-
sion has been on the lines, as | saw
New York paper with a piece in say
ing where il was. We had a few ex-
citing times, but nothing very bad
From what I've seen, I'm more than
ever convinced that with good care a
man has very good chance of coming
thro o. K | intend to be as careful
as possible and hope to come .out and
so back home as fit or better. more fit
than when | came out | hope to do
my duty as a good soldier. as | know
you would all want and then If any
thing happens we'll have the consola
ton that 1t happened in good
cause. All men must go some time
when their appointed time has come
and If we're prepared to go I'm sure
we'll have nothing to worry about.
We are to move from this place
soon, and will very likely go back to
some part OF the lines. Where wen
go haven't the least idea and don't
care. One place is very much the
same as another as far as ! can see
only hope we1l be sent in as soon
as possible In such umbers as TO get
this business over as quickly as ever
the good Lord will permit.
The reports, as you see in the pap
ers at home, are very favorable for
the Allies now, and only hope they
continue so. feel quite sure they
will too, as I've great faith in the
IoaIarr ,f 20 n,
long time vet, and doubtless will, but
let us hope that in another year we
will all be together once more and
have a great reunion II the civilians
in America will only continue to back
up the War Loans and all those actiyi-
ties, and keep the munitions coming
over, there is nothing can stop the
huge army she is raising and sending
over so fast.
I've been two days writing this let
ter but hope to finish it this time
Whenever you feel like kicking at
the demands that are made on you for
all those Red Cross funds. etc, and
feel tired with all the work that you
must have now, cheer up father. and
tell Dan to also, for you've lots to be
thankful for For one thing you're
clean. and have good clean clothes.
At the present moment I'm dirty as
the devil and have a rather bad at
tack Of the Coolies in other words.
I'm lousy as hell II is almost impos-
sible to get water here to drink, and
a chance to wash Is something to be
welcomed as gift from heaven.
However I do my best and manage to
keep fairly decent. 1t is pretty hard
tho to feel very respectable and at
peace with the world when your shirt
Is used as a parade ground by small
army Of dear little Coolies
drink some beer and light wine
which the people over here use in
stead of water. The water is very
poor and few Of the natives drink IT,.
The Army renders it fit for use. when
II can be obtained, by chemical treat.
mem,
| quit smoking and chewing last
February. partly to see If I'd really
the will-power to do It and partly TO
better my wind A couple weeks ago
| started to smoke again, tho. and
now think I'll keep It up for While
as there is great deal of comfort IN
the habit and no particular harm as
long as it's not carried to excess You
can be sure It won't be carried to ex-
cess over here as It is too hard to get
any tobacco You can only buy a
limited amount; indeed everything
is limited as to the amount a man can
buy 1t is no trouble to save money
over here, II one cares to do so. I'm
spending all the pay ! draw, tho. on
eats and whatever else useful that it
is possible. to buy; as life is uncertain
at best. SO what is the sense Of keep
ing a lot of money about one?.
My address now is:-Co. b, 102nd
u S. Engrs, American +. f., A. p.
O. No. 74S.
All the papers that Mother sent
have arrived and were as welcome as
could be. II sure does seem good to
read all the news from home
No mail has come for over week
but I'm looking forward hopefully for
II. Mother said in her last letter that
you had written and Dan also. hope
your letter comes in this next mail
nc n fs a long tinp since I've seen