The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-01
LIEUT.. WEST TELLS
 OF LIFE IN FRANCE
 AND FUTURE HOPES
Birmingham Boy Has Some Fine Things to Say of Red
 Cross Work

Lieut. Thurber West, a popular Bir- mingham boy, writing to his sister, Mrs F. D. Gamble, from somewhere in France" under the date of August 2s, says:
 "Again I have the pleasure of writ ing you. l will try and give yon a little description of the present sur roundings We are out on one Of our rest periods; we are quartered in ah immense barn, and l am upstairs; we have new straw for a bed and plenty of room and ventilation. It is very clean and on the whole 1t is very pleasant place to stay. The owners must have been very wealthy people before the war, for all the buildings are in good condition, of immense size and the whole farm shows prosperity Acres and acres of golden grain and clover stretch toward the distant hills and YOU would hardly believe that war was in progress if it wasn't for the occa sional rrnnbling of the distant guns.
 .Yesterday was Sunday and we had services out in the orchard of the place. Late last evening one Of our sergeants got hold of violin and we had some fine music. We started out with popular rags and wound up with tne Holy Cfty." There were very few pieces that he couldn't play. We had grand opera, old ballads, sacred songs and rag. He was still playing when l went to bed, very different lullaby from the ones we had been hearing.
 Isn't this drive wonderful? The French are very hopeful of it's effect on Germany and so are we. We Amor jeans are hoping the thing will soon be over and we may come home to Gods country. There is no place like America for me, and l think l speak for us all.
 "The Red Cross is doing a wonderful worK over here You people back In the states can't imagine how much a dollar can do toward making life liv- able over here. 1 don't know what the marines would have done in Belleau wood if the Red Cross hadn't kept us supplied with chocolate and smokes. There isn't a member of the corps but blesses and praises the work. This is only one phase of the great work, one out of many
 "It is mighty fine to see Red Cross field headquarters and as you munch away on your chocolates and cookies and puff away at your Gamer or Lucky Strike you silently bless the friends back home who boosted the Red Cross. Another fine thing they do is this you have travelled all day long in famous Cchummes chevauX,) 'boxcar special with bully beef and hardtack for an appetizer. the train pulls up in little town and you hear someone down the line shout; outside with your cups, and O! boyl the coffet that these Red Cross girls serve is t11 I xye pull out on our way to Somewhere else we look back until the little f1ut- tering figures in white are lost tC view Yes the Red Cross is a m1n- istering angel to these boys in g strange land.
 T guess you have gotten my letter with my present address by now. am expecting letter daily and hope l won't have to wait long. The weath CT is fine over here, with the excep- ton of frequent showers; this make. it rather disagreeable underfood fol awhile and especially when you are III in the line. I surely do hope we won have to spend the winter here. How is everything back home Fine as car be, hope.
 consider by censor, will close. Give my petite million hugs and kisse. for me and tell her her brother would give anything to see her and hear nel sing, but it won't be long before w' will come home. I guess we must b' patient and pray. NOW, dearest on' you know how I love you, no word can ever tell, but rest assured that i the Lord will that I shall come home that shall be the same as when I lef you. This should be a token of m, love. Best regards to all my friends Always yours"