The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-01-03
LETTER FROM ROY KEMRLE
MAKES GOOD READING.
Dated Dec. 10. 1917.

In the H0SpltaE
Mother Dear:-I haven't written tol
Won for long time. but ! haven't
written to anyone else either, for /
haven't felt up to it, Have had quite
a session with my eyes, Have new
glasses now and feel bit better. l
haven't done tap Of work for four
weeks. Went to Paris once to see
about my eyes. The Army DR.. said
he wasn't equipped to do anything for
me SO / went to the best civilian ocu-
Iist in the city. He told me that my
ewes were very badly strained and
that the astigmatism and myopia had
increased greatly, and that any con-
centrated work Of any kind would
cause them to get worse. He advised
me to try and get transferred to some
other duties if could. ! came back
to my section, stayed week, and
Went back to Headquarters and ap-
plied for transfer. Well, from then
on, all | did was tTot from one army
DR.. to another and back again. Was
in Paris about ten days and they sent
me to a new place every day. They
all examined me in different way,
and sent me back to Headquarters
with a report, Major Winter said !
had caused more trouble to the U. 5.
Army Medical Corps than all the
troops in France. They finally sent
me back to the section and in a few
days the Lieutenant got letter with
the Doctors reports. Every report
was different and disagreed with the
others So in typical army style,
HEADQUARTERS ordered that i stay
where | am. Wish you'd show ]. G.
this letter. He probably knows more
about my eyes than any of them.
lust wonder what he thinks about
them. | don't know whether DR..
Borsch tthe Paris oculistl alarmed me
unnecessarily or not.
However, that hasn't anything to do
with my being in the hospital just
now. Pm here with one of my usual
coughs. but feeling much better, and
hope to be out shortly. Got the pack
age Of chocolates and matted milk the
other day. II sure came in handy.
told You, didn't I, that got the knit.
ted goods all o. K Got letter from
you, ore from father and one from
Art the other day. Glad to hear that
we copped the rose prizes at the show
Gosh. how I would love to have been
there. Would Ike to see the Re
views account &C it. !. II you send IT,
send it first class mail or III never
get il. Have only received two Her
aids, but they were worth a years
subscription price TO me You're all
wrong about seetioa 90 being new
one. as / guess I've told you by now
Ny chances for advancement wen
glimmering when we made th'
change. We have finally been attach
ed to an attacking division, SO viii
probably get some front line work be
fore long. Had very interesting
trip the other day up to the front
Vert up beyond the French batteries
ever what was mo Mans Land" ;
few weeks ago. Throngh the ole
trenches, both French and German
Down in the dugouts, then on up Il
where we could see both lines. Abou
that time the Germans began drop
ping shells on the road. There ar,
two things can't describe. One il
the absolute utter destruction of shel
fire. mo Mans Land cannot b
pictured. The other indescribable
the sound Of shell coming in. Some
what like a giant sky rocket you hea
it in the distance, getting louder ant
louder, then it strikes and explode
with terrific bang, and smoke an
dirt and rocks and red hot metal fiji
the air. The first one that came il
hit about so yards from US and W
were absolutely petrifed. But it di
not take us long to get to moving.
Well, enough for now. Love to al
(Signed) ROY.