Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-03-28
CHAPTER v.
Mud, Rats and Shells.


suits from clean sheets and soft pill
lows, but the sleep that comes from
cold, wet and sheer exhaustion.
Suddenly. the earth seemed to shake
and a thunderclap burst In my ears. I
opened my eyes-I was splashed all
over with sticky mud, and men were
picking themselves up from the bottom
Of the trench. The parapet on my left
had toppled into the trench, completely
blocking 1t with a wall of tossed-up
earth. The man on my left lay still. I
rubbed the mud from my face, and an
awful sight met my gaze--his head
was smashed to n pulp, and his steel
helmet was full Of brains and blood.
A German minnie" (trench mortar)
had exploded in the next traverse. Men
were digging into the soft mass of mud
in a frenzy Of haste. Stretcher-bear-
ers anne 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 rea Soon they would
be resting somewhere in France" with
a little wooden cross over their heads.
They had done their bit for king and
country. had died without firing a shot,
but their services were appreciated
nevertheless.
Later on. l found out their names
They belonged to u draft.
l was daZed and motionless. Sud
denly a shovel was pushed into my
hands. and q rough but kindly voice
said:
Here, my lad. lend a hand clearing
the trench, but keep your head down
and look out for snlpers. One Of the
Tritz's is a daisy, and he'll get you II
you're not careful"
Lying on my belly on the bottom OF
the trench, I filled 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 cracl
overhead, and a machine gun woult
kick up the mud on the bashed-in para
pet. At each crack I would duck ant
shield my face with my arm. One O.
the older men noticed this action O.
mine. and whispered:
Don't duck at the crack Of a bul
let, Yank; the danger has passed-yo,
never hear the one that wings you
Always remember that If you are goinl
to get 1t, you'll get it, SO never worry
This made a great impression on mi
at the time, and from then on, I adopt
ed his motto. IF you're going to get It
you'll get it."
It helped ne wonderfully. I used I
80 often afterwards that some Of m!
mates dubbed me, If you're going t,
get 1t, you'll get It,"
After an hours hard work, all m!
nervousness left me, and I was laugh
ing and Joking with the rest.
At one o'clock, dinner came up II
the form Of q dixie Of hot stew.
I looked for my canteen. It ha'
fallen of the fire step. and was hal
buried in the mud. The man on m,
left noticed this, and told the corporal
dlshing out the ratlons, to put m,
share in his mess tin. Then he whis
pered to me, always take core Of you
mess tin, mate"
had learned another maxim Of tn
trenches.
That stew tasted fine. I was a
hungry as q bear. We had seconds,
or another helping, because three o
the men had "gone West" killed b,
the explosion Of the German trencl
mortar, and we ate their share, bu
still I was hungry. SO I filled in wit
bully beef and biscuits. Then I draine
my water bottle. Later on ! learne'
another maxim Of the front line. g
sparingly with your water" The bull
beef made me thirsty, and BY ten tim
was dying for q drink, but my prid
would not allow me to ask my mate
Tor water. was fast learning tn
ethics Of the trenches.
That night I was Put on guard wit
an older man. VS. stood on the fr
step with our hands over the top. peel
inR out into No Mans Land. It va
nervous work for me, but the other fe
low seemed to take It - part Of tn
nights routine.
Then something shot past my fac'
W heart stopped beating, and I ducke