The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-11-16
LETTER FROM WILLIAM JEPsoN
Soldier Boy Writes Home From the
Front in France.

Soldier Boy Writes Home From the
Front in France.
William Jepson writes from the
front in France a letter TO his mother,
which with the personal matter omit
ted Is given TO our readers;
Sept 20. 1918
Somewhere In France"
Dear Mother and ALL
| thought would write you few
lines to let you know am well and
hope YOU are all the same received
your papers and letters am feeling
fine now and have been over the top
and we had fine time bringing in the
Boche, brought thirty-nine into
camp and lots OF souvenirs We stay
ed in one of their dugouts over night
and had pan cakes and French fried
potatoes IN another town we cap
tured all kinds of beer and eats We
lived the life OF Riley for a while We
are on a front now where the worst
battle of the war was fought The
weather has been rotten here-so
much rain and mud
The letter you sent the money in
has not arrived yet but it will later
Don't send any MORE without | send
for Il, perhaps ! will later send for
some warm foot wear for the winter
but viii let you know, as France does
not have them. We expect our pay
very soon; let's hope So II is not
so about Raymond Church; but the
boy who came to the hospital said IL
was true. He is back with us He
had a bayonet stuck in his knee. II
was not very bad but he went to the
hospital for while. haven't heard
word from Erwin Gates; but he was
very badly hurt in the back by shrap
mel from q large explosive she'll.
James Smiths brother was killed
he told me yesterday. had a good
dinner with about twenty Bennington
boys in the ammunition train yester.
day and enjoyed good talk with
I them We hadn't met before in four
months. They are all we'll and like
It. You said you wish the war was
over, but don't worry, It will be over
/ when the boys come sailing home. !
wish you wouldn't worry so about me
Tor / am old enough TO look out for
myself If the Boche will let me alone.
1t must be time to dig potatoes Has
Father got many planted this year? !
am very sorry his rheumatism is not
better. Tell Henry to get his gun and
come over will give him "A job. Has
Johnny got his garden all harvested
He must have had to hire some help
Ruth must be big girl now. she Will
he looking fora soldier boy ! re
ceived Julia Harmons letter and also
a letter from Mrs Barber and a pic
ture of her and the kids. How is
James Bushnell and Wife, ] have
been going to write him but haven't
found time yet. Didn't Leon ever get
my letter? wrote him long ago.
suppose ! won't know that Flats when
get back. that's a long ways yet but
we have patience
am living in a dugout in the
woods but can't tell for how long Dc
the papers ever speak of our division
It has good chance to for it de
serves it and Il takes the cake of al
others. over here our mail has been
tied up for sometime but It is cominl
all right now ! got letter from
Miss Vickers and who is she?
newcomer? | CUES they like the u
5, boys have six bolls on my neck
my neck was stint when I went owe
the top but 1t soon got timber dodg
ing shells and machine gun bullets
We are in the woods now about lifteei
miles from a town had res
when was in the Base hospital ant
that was the first one | had since
visited you year ago wish ! coul,
be home for week and visit you thi
Christmas but It is not because an
homesick. have forgotten abou
coming back for some time, becaus
the Vermont boys have to hold tnei
grit for they are called good soldiers
l'heard the States were going dry il
December but old France is goin
wet This is a good country Ducc
win or lots OF wine
Give my love to father and all tn
rest OF the neighbors until we NEE
later Love to all
William Jepson
Co. II, 1903, Z s. Infantry.
Amariran h ~