Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-12-11
LETTER FROM OVERSEAS
On Active Service with American
Expeditionary Forces.

LApculllOudiy rOICSS.
A. P. o. 731-A. France
My Dear Father:
Just received your good letter to-
day. / was certainly glad to hear
from you, too, after a long silence.
was certainly surprised to note that
you had not heard from me for
twelve weeks. Surely it was not my
fault, for have been writing at least
every two weeks. -
Well, how is everything and every
body at home? Fine l hope. Saw an
article in the papers not long ago
where Iowa was the first state to go
"over the top" in the Fourth Liberty
Loan campaign.
Where in the world did the rumor
that had been wounded start from
, anyway? Nevertheless l have, had
several close calls but not a scratch
yet. 1 was up at the front lines few
days ago, and couple of nights
slept in dug-outs that were occupied
by the Huns only couple of days
previous. Out of that sector they had
to move very quickly, as they left
almost everything behind. 1t was
sure sight, wish you people could
see what l have seen. The Huns
certainly were we'll settled there for
the last three years, and they figured
on staying there a while longer, when
the ''YANKS" came and drove. them
out. In those dug-outs they Were
living as comfortably as if there were
no war; Steam heat, electric lights,
real furniture and real beds to sleep
on, and / haven't mentioneds their
water system and gardens. While up
there we were under constant shell
/ fire. The sound of those projectiles
as they sped on to their objeqtiye,
reminded me so much of an Ameri-
can railroad train when coming to a
halt and releasing the air. How l
have wished many times that you
could have had the experiences /
have had. Believe me, those Germans
have a great plenty of that hard
ware" left judging by the barrage
they put up during the days have
visited the front. Their supply is
certainly not expiring very rapidly.
Nevertheless, for every shell they
send over, we send ten back in re-
turn.
| l am sure glad you had the good
fortune to be in Chicago during the
War Exposition. / wish you could
have seen a formation of TANKS"
go into action the way they do over
here. They sure are a wonderful
piece of machinery, arn't they?
While in England last year l had the
good luck to go through one of the
large factories where those monsters
are built.
Am also glad that the STARS and
Stripes" are reaching you regularly.
had it sent from the publishing
house direct and have been rather
anxious to know If you were receiv-
ing it. |, too, miss the PLANE
NEWS. That paper is published at
an aviation instruction center where
l was a couple of months during
last winter. / wish now that | had
subscribed for it.
You bet, I'll be home for some OF
Grandma's peaches next winter and
maybe before next winter, sure hope
so. How I'd like to be home and par
take of your Thanksgiving dinner.
At any rate, wish you all a happy
Thanksgiving Day.
Am enclosing Christmas package
coupon. Also two little souvenirs
that / took off an airplane. They
were patches to cover a puncture in
wing caused by German bullets.
I'll have to quit now and douce
the lights. Write to me soon and
give my regards to all.
Love to Grandma and you.
Yours, ISL.