New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-08-17
WAR EXPERIENCE OF AN
IBERIAN.

After their first baptism of fire
the Sammies do not fear German
shells and grow to be fatalists,
they think there is one made for
them and when it falls, but why
worry till it does. That is the
expression sent back from the
trenches Of France by Lieutenant
|. }. Lietemeyer, of Company +,
127th Infantry. He was formerly
a resident of New Iberia, La,
where his brother has a stock
farm. For several years Lleu-
tenant Lietemeyer was salesman
| in Iowa for the Louisiana Red
Cypress Company, resig9ing to
take the first officers training
camp course, being given a COM
mission as lieutenant. His letter
follows:
"Sopewhere in the Trenches,
July 18th, 1918.
"To the Crowd:
Thought the boys would be
interested in knowing that | am
still among the living. So far
have come through without a
scratch (knock on woody Am
sorry cannot say the same for our
company-nothipg very heavy
but so awful regular. Mr.. Boche
is taking his toll, but do not
! worry, we are paying them back
with interest.
"Our boys have developed into
grand bunch of fighters. They
never miss a chance to mix it with
the Boche and always come out
on top. At times they are all mud
and CRIME, and yes, lice, but they
meyer quit smiling. They espec-
tally like to 90 on patrols across
to the Boche trenches at might.
The men in my platoon get Of.
Tended because it is impossible
to take them all every time. Only
certain number can 90 and
they all want to be included. I'll
tell you this is ticklish business.
One unlucky flare going up when
your patrol is not under cover or
one false step and it's Good
Night for the whole works.
Ordinarily, cutting barb wire
does not make a whole lot OF
noise. but believe me it seems like
quite the loudest noise you ever
heard when you cut the wire In
front of the Boche trenches in the
dead of the night.
"Of course, we all want to 60
ON these patrols, we want to ac-
aomplish every mission assigned.
and above all we do not want to
miss a chance to try conclusions
with the Huns, so while you are
arranging all the details Of your
patrol you are all enthusiastic
and busy and do not feel the
strain, but after You have gone
out and been in the face OF the
Boche machine guns for three or
four hours and either accomplish
ed your missions or failed, then the
strain begins to tell, and when
you climb back into your own
trenches again it's grand and
glorious feeling believe me,
especially if you bring all Of your
men safely back. If you do not,
well, the feeling is not quite SO
grand and glorious because you
begin to wonder whether you did
everything possible to save them.l
Gee, a fellow hates to leave one
Of his men over there-even II ne
is killed it does not seem the same
if you can bring his body back.
Twill always be thankful that
our boys went in with the French:
They gave us some examples OF
GOODNESS and bravery that we
shall never forget. It served to
make seasoned soldiers out OF US
very quickly. We received our
baptism Of fire the first night in.
Had only completed the relief and
was down in the dugout taking
things over with the French lieu
tenant when the Boche started
bombarding. Was l scaredi Be-
lieve I was the scaredest man IN
Europe-but thank goodness had
nerve enough to 60 out into the
trenches among the men. The
shells were falling like hail-also
hell. First they set their bar
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