The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-11-15

town and opened fire out of a WIN
dow and was killing them right and
left, but lieutenant is real man and
wo.'s send one Of his men in a place
he won't go himself. He thought I
WAS in. a dangerous place, as I was,
and sent for me to come down out of
the building because Fritz was she'll
ing the village and lieutenant
thought he would hit the place where
I was. Just as we started out he
dropped big shell in the back of the
uilding and it fell and wounded
two of the boys that was with me.
We wrapped them up and off they
went-then we went out where lieu
tenant was and he shook my hand
and said, "boy, you are brave-did
what I wouldn't do;"-but, Mama, I
don't mind that was killing Ger
mans as fast as I could NOW them
down. I guess you all have heard
what the machine gun will do. Well,
1 used it like a man and we are out
on a rest now, about five miles be-
hind the lines, sleeping in the dug
outs that we have just run old Fritz
ut Of. He was sleeping here four
'ays ago himself and now he is four
five miles from here. The Ameri-
cans have been over the top ever
ince we started the drive.
Mama, after all you have fun ly-
g behind a machine gun, moving
hem down like grass. couldn't
oelp but laugh all the time we were
lighting. You could see some aw-
full funny things. One of our boys
guns went out of action-he picked
up a shovel and made for a German
hat had just killed his partner be-
side him and caved his head in with
the shovel-down he went. The boy
was named Sports-a big husky guy.
He went through that battle without
, scratch, but the next day he was
killed by the first shell. We hated
to lose him.
We left Sewer with two hundred
and fifty men, have been over the
'op four times and have lost but
forty-six men in my company. We
went over the top with six officers
when we came back, we had one.
The worst part about the Germans
is that they are not as brave as they
Ill say they are. They are pretty
brave until the Americans get up on
hem and then they "Kamerad," and
out their hands in the air and try to
give up, but we only put a bullet
:ole through their head and a Ger
man goes "West."
Mama, 1 am going to send you a
cablegram today that will beat this
.ctter there a good bit. Guess you
ave heard about US by this time,
50 don't worry about it. Saw Char
.ie about a week ago. He was well,
but doesn't have to go to the line
he or Bill either.
Tell Papa I am going to get the
money because 1 have killed them
all.
Mama, give Papa, Grandmother,
and Mrs. Rutledge all my
love. 1 am going to write Mrs. Rut-
ledge today.
Give everybody my love. I will
soon be home.
Your son,
David W. Lyon.
Company "L", 11Sth Infantry,
So r., 3Oth Division, A. P. o. 479.
P. S.-Answers to questions: Let
;er September 9th.
You asked me about how they
;reated me-ine! They never get
after me at all. I am a fighting man
low-not a child.
Mama, Captain Craig has been
With us for three months. He got
;ck while we were in Belgium, and
he captain we had in his place was
iilled-Captain Jones. Lieutenant
Iudgens was killed too. i
iUl is still getting along fine Just
IS hearty as ever. Il
September 18th letter from you:
Mo,,o u,a don't oat ,,n11chr of q