Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-03-27
CHAPTER v.
Mud Rats ana Shells.

mist have slept for two or three
,orrg nor the refreshing kind that re-
.r,+s rom clean sheets and soft pill
avs Int the sleep that comes from |
,od wet and sheer exhaustion.
Suddenly. the earth seemed to shake |
and tbunderclap burst in my ears. L |
,nappd nv eyeS-I was splashed all |
,ror with sticky mud, and men were |
,clfng themselves up from the bottom
# the trench. The parapet on my left
had foDpled into the trench, completely
blocking it with a wall of tossed-up
sartb The man on my left lay still. 1
rbbed the mud from my face, and an
awful sight met my gaZe-his head
was smashed to a pulp, and his steel
bompt WAS full of brains and blood.
A German Minnie" (trench mOrtar)
had pyplOded in the next traverse. Men
we're digging into the soft mass of mud
in frenzy Of haste. Stretcher-bear-
srs came up the trench on the double.
After a few minutes of digging, three
still, muddy forms on stretchers were
carried down the communication
trench to the rear. Soon they would
be resting somewhere in France" with
little wooden cross over their heads.
They had done their bit for king and
country, had died without firing shot.
but their services were appreciated,
nevertheless.
Later on, I found out their names.
They belonged to our draft.
was dazed and mOtiOnless. Sud-
denly a shovel was pushed into my
hands, and a rough but kindly voice
said
Here. my lad, lend a hand clearing
the trench. but keep your head down,
and look out for snipers. One of the
Frirzs is a daisy, and he'll get you II
you're not careful"
Lying on my belly on the bottom of
the trench, I filed sandbags with the
sticky mud, they were dragged to my
rear by the other men, and the work OF
rebuilding the parapet was on. The
harder I worked, the better I felt. AL
though the weather was cold, I was
soaked with sweat.
Occasionally a bullet would crack
overhead, and a machine gun would
kick up the mud on the bashed-in para
PET, At each crack 1 would duck and
shield my face with my arm. One of
the older men noticed this action of
mine, and whispered:
Don't duck at the crack of bull
let lank; the danger has passed-you
never hear the one that wings you.
Always remember that if you are going
to get it, you'll get it, so never worry.
This made a great impression on me
at the time, and from then on, adopt
ed his motto, IF you're going to get it,
you'll get it."
II helped me wonderfully. l used 1t
so often afterwards that some of my
mates dubbed me, "If you're going to
get it, you'll get it."
After an hours hard work, all my
nervousness left me, and I was laugh
Ing and joking with the rest.
At one o'clock, dinner came up in
he form of a dixie of hot stew.
l looked for my canteen. 1t had
tRuen off the fire step, and was halt
ouFled in the mud. The man on my
.tIf noticed this, and told the corporal
NShing out the rations, to put my
snare in his mess tin. Then he whis
p5Fed 10 me, Always take care of youl
ness tin, mate"
had learned another maxim of the
trenches.
That stew tasted fine. I was as
hungry as q bear. We had seconds,
Vt another helping, because three Of
ma men had 'gOne West" killed by
lie explosion of the German trench
mortar and we ate their share, bu
SUI / was hungry, so l filed in witt
gully heef and biscuits. Then l drained
~y water bottle. Later on I learned
another maxim of the front line, Sc
SEannEly with your water" The bull!
CeeI made me thirsty, and by tea tim'
was dying for Il drink, but my pride
would not allow me to ask my mates
-vF water. I was fast learning thu
e,lcS Of the trenches.
mat night I was put on guard will
~N Older man. We stood on the fir,
s'Fp with our hands over the top, peer
.As out into No Mans Land. 1t wa
nervous work for me, but the other fel
~" seemed to take it as part of tn
nights routine.
men something shot past my face
~ aeart stopped beating, and ducke'
~ mead below the parapet. A sof