The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1918-08-22
AMERICAS APPREC|A-
ton IS BEING SHOWN
Our American Boys are Making Good
in France and are Being Awarded
for Their Services at Front.

1t is beginning to be noticeable
what the Government is doing for our
men at the front, for those that have
had the steady grind of military life,
helping to stop the Huns from ad-
vancing any farther and then starting
them back for Berlin Some of the
first ones over are beginning to show
their ability and getting some good
positions.
O. M. Champlin has just received
letter from his son, Walter B. Champ
lin, who has been over nearly year
and half and has been in the trans
port service most of the time, where
in he states that he has been trans
ferred to the position of instructor in
a school for motor transport service.
The transport service is a new divis-
ion and is independent of other organ
iZations. BY these schools the aver
age soldier that has had some eXper-
jnence as driver is made what they
call one hundred per cent efficient for
driving.
Champlin served six months with
the French army, during which time
he received two promotions and was
at the time of his discharge a SER
SCdIlG. IHcl JOllIllS cuL AiHSLlSdi
forces and again advanced thru two
training camps for the advancement
of truck experts. He says he has
been up around the big noise since
May and thinks he will get lonesome
TO get back there soon. Here is one
of his latest letters that will be Of in
terast to his friends:
Motor Transport School No. l,
A. P. O. 70S, A. E. F.
Dear Father:
Just a hasty line this morning to
let you know my new address and ad-
wise you of what has happened to me
in the past week.
July 26th, while hard at work at the
front, came an order transferring SIX
Of the graduates of the French Motor
School to the new American Motor
Transport School No. l, where we
were to act as instructors. Fourteen
other men-old field service chaps
were also transferred to act as in
structors under our direction. We six
men are rated as Cadets until our
commissions come, which should be
within a week or so. We are each at
tached to company and have duties
similar to those of Second Lleuten-
ant. You can imagine how great the
change has been from truck driver to
instructor.
We are miles and miles away from
the front-the name of the town IS
Decize-see if you can find it on the
map-and for the first time since
came over you'll know where | am.
Believe me! The U. S. is going
after this automobile game in the
right way. We have practically
every kind of truck manufactured
here at the school. So far nave
driven Kicker, Packard, Nash Quad'
E.. T. D., Pierce-ArroW, Gar1oro'
Clvdesdale, A. E. c., and about half q
dozen others the names OF which
cannot recall at present.
I cannot accustom myself to the
change from the war zone to the rear.
Lights burning after dark give me a
creepv feeling. Sometimes we could
not even light cigarette up at the
front. You can see how the change IS
going to be rest for while, but l
suppose sooner or later it will become
very monotonous and then I'll want to
get up where things are doing again.
| do not think that one could con-
ceive of more perfect climate than
we have here-not cloud in the
skv. much sunshine and cool nights.
We have fine river to swim in-the
Loire-but l have not been in yet.
Will let you know more about
things later.