The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-09-18
From Ben Tekip.


Received Sept 9Th.
Dear Aunt:
My last long letter to you was on the
18th OF July and I suppose you are
wondering what all has happened that
1 harry know where to start. let alone
tell all that has happened When
wrote TO you last 7 was feeling pretty
happy at the prospect Of being relieved
so I will start about there in my letter
After finishing your letter I folded
II nicely and put Il IN my pocket OF
course and started out TO another bat
talon to repair a few more typewrit-
ers While I was there the order came
to move and I piled right in with one
Of the companies thinking we were
going to be relieved. Happy is no
name for IL. The truck wouldn't hold
me- 80 I climbed on top OF the machine.
put a cigaret in my mouth. stuck my
hat on the side Of my head-sayi
| felt as though I owned the world. The
French people cheered us along the
way and the Y NJ. c. A gave US some
chocolate,-say cousin. FELT as though
won the last battle myself
About midnight I got sleepy and
three OF US went TO sleep on the can
vass roof Of the truck sure fine sleep
| ing but toward morning the machine
! passed over bump and we were rudely
awakened By the truck caving in and Of
course We caught hell from the ser
geant, and to my great surprise We
were travelling toward the lines instead
Of away from them. Finally It dawned
upon US that possibly we might be go
ing into another battle instead Of TO a
rest camp. and we sure did 90 into
another battle.
We did a bunch OF hiking that would
make an army mule lame for life. and
| took all honors from the camel for
going without water. As for eats and
sleep - the less said the letter.
What We went through. you wouldn Z
believe. nor ne either. year ago. but
We arc so doggoned proud OF 1t that
we must brag q bit about it. Well
anyway. as soon as I found out what
was going to happen. I couldn't resist
the temptation TO go over the top.
so forgot all about repairing back
10 HEADQUARTERS She sure was one
erand little battle and I'm still whole.
So / will tell YOU as much as the censor
VIII let me
II was going TO be open warfare. 50
after doing a bit OF pusyfooting. get
ting I'D 10 Frftz's playground. we duck
ed down In a wheat field TO wait for
daylight and the fun to commence.
sat looking al my watch and at the
set minute BANG, and the battle was
on. was I'm the hrst wave and saw
quite ? BIT q it. when those Fritzies
saw US coming up went q rocket OF
Ave red stars, which was a signal fol
their barrage I guess, because We
caught hell right there When 1 saw
that barrage tearing up the Landscape
over across the wheatheld. they looked
as thick as hail stones and I said tf
myself, Goodbye TEX what kind o.
flowers do you prefer" But Lord
child. when we got into Il there wa
all kinds Of room to spare. anyway
didn't crowd any OF the big shells no
bit. While we were in the middle o
the barrage I head someone yellins
and I looked around to see il II wa
the commander giving orders. an.
there was a damphol soldier singing
the top Of his voice. shooting his gul
as fast as he could load 1t and havini
the time Of his young life Funnies
thing YOU ever saw. Anyway after "
cot through the harrage We felt u
easier because II was easy sailing froT
there: nothing to bother us but fe'
Intel things like machine guns. rife'
granades and Fritzies-
From, there on I couldn't give an &C
curate description II I had to. OF a
that took place. I remember We circle
machine gun and after we capture
II with a bunch Of prisoners. 1 wen
tearing up and grabbed their canteen
awav from them trying 70 md litti
water. hut ell they hal was dirt