Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1918-12-06

the French ships. like the Italian, de.
pend on live stock, fresh vegetables,
etc. which they carry on bonrd, and
we had expected 10 get n large supply
OF such stun at Spezla. Long before
the fourteen days were up we were
out OF these things, and had 10 live on
anything we could get hold of-mostly
~hnrdtack, coffee and cocoa.
We loaded n cargo OF airplanes for
the Italian avlntors at the French ay-
ing schools, and started back TO Brest.
on h way back we had target prnc-
tice. In fact. nj most times on the
open sea, II was a regular part OF the
routine.
II was during one OF these practices
that the French officers wanted TO
ind out what the Yankee gunner knew
about gunnery. At n range OF eight
miles. while the ship was making eight
Knot an hour, with n fourteen-inch
gun ! scored three d's-that is, three
direct hits out Of Eve trials. After
that there WINS no question about II. As
q result, l was awarded three bars.
These bars, which are strips OF red
braid, are worn on the left sleeve, and
signify extra marksmanshIp. I also
received two hundred and hfty francs.
or about fifty dollars in American
money, and fourteen days shore leave.
All this made me very angry, oh,
very much wrought up ~indeed-noti
saw a merry life fer myself on the
French rolling wave II they felt that
way about gunnery.
spent most Of my leave with my
grandmother In st. Nazaire, except for
a short trip l made to a star-shell fac
tory. This factory was Just about like
n / saw later somewhere In Amer
lea, only In the French works, all the
I'M were women. Only the Runrds
were men, and they were 'blesses'
(wounded).
When my leave was up and | snid
good-by TO my grandmother, she man.
a smile for me. though ] could
see that II was pretty stiif work. And
without getting soft, or anything like
! a tell you that smile stayed
with me and II did me more good than
you would believe. because II gave me
something good to think about when I
was up against the real thing.
hope a lot of you people who read
this book are women, because I have
had II In mind for some time to tell all
the women I could n little thing they
can DO that will help a lot. ! am not
to be fancy about II. and I hope
you Will take II from me the way /
II.
When you say good-by 10 your son
Or your husband or your sweetheart.
up n smile for him. What you
to do ia to give him something he
an think about over there, and some
hing ne viii like TO think about. There
80 much dirt, and blood. and hunger.
cold. and all that around you, that
you have just got TO quit thinking
lbout II, or you will go crazy. And SO,
you a think about something
lice. you can pretty nearly forget all
he rest for a while. The incest things
'ou can think about are the things you
liked back home.
Now, you can take II from me that
What your boy will like TO remember
he best OF all is your face with a
mile on II. He has got enough hell ON
lis hands without a lot OF weeps 20 re-
member. II you viii excuse the word.
'ut don't forget that the chances are
N his side that he gets back 10 Won
he figures prove II. That will helm
GU some. AT that, II will be hard
you viii feel more like crying.
80 will no, maybe. But smile for
i'm. That smile is your bit.
l will back a smile against the weeps
! a race to Berlin any time. SO | am
,lling you, and l cannot make II strong
nough--send him away with a smile.