The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-12
DONALD JOHNSTON
IS NEAR FRONT

II And on reading my various "ver.
botens" that to write an epistle of in
terest to you will be impossible" said
Donald B. Johnson, in beginning re.
cent letter to his parents, DR.. and Mrs
Melville F. Johnston.
The letter follows:
American E. F., August Is, 1918
Dear Mother and Father:
II take my pen in hand to write an
epistle of interest to you, but find on
reading my various 'verbotens' that
such proceeding Is impossible. ~he
things we are prohibited from telling
In letters are multitudinous and one is
hard put to 1t to find anything at all
to write about. but here goes.
We crossed the Atlantic ocean on a
boat and landed in Europe, in France
to be more specific. 1t was a fine day,
and ! was put on duty near the pier,
where we had good food and there
managed to get bath in the ocean.
Later we marched to a camp some
distance from the port and designated
as rest camp. from the fact that
only one third of the companies
worked at one time For me it is a
rest camp and | can use little rest
very well. assure you, since it is al
most my first few days off actual duty
since / entered the army.
The country here is very charming
although poorer than most parts Of
France--its chief beauty lying in its
verdure, due to a damp climate. The
houses are of the customary stone
construction with slate roofs and iron
trimmings, but bespeak poverty that
ia NJ 10 on i've
Becoming Real Soldiers.
Our lieutenant has been good
enough to see to it that we are al
countryside, but cannot allow us to
stop and visit in the villages or
churches here and there, as l would
like to do. These little trips are the
best thing we have yet had for the
morale OF our. company for we have
been closely restricted practically
since we entered the army.
1t hurts me that I cannot see more
intimately the beautiful things about
us. If could only go and see the an
cient villages, churches and farm
steads about our camps in what lei
sure hours may be granted me, as
did in 1911 and 1914, am sure it
N.
hope that in the near future this priv
ilege will be granted us as it has been
in other regiments.
We have no idea as to where we
are to go. | have a large map OF
France and presume that our future
field of operations is located some
where within its confines. The thing
that is pleasing to me is that lat any
rate, each day brings me nearer to
actual participation in the work here.
| hope soon to learn just what role l
am to play in the 44th Engineers.
have found fine fellow to be my
companion at arms here in our Head
quarters Co. His name is
and he is q man. He has intelligence
and understands what he sees about
him, has ability to take hold of job
and put 1t through and is pleasant
companion. We seem to understand
each other and are good friends. The
rest Of the company are all fine boys,
a good natured companionable crowd
ard we get along very pleasantly to-
gs,ther.
We grumble lot which proves we
are becoming soldiers, so they say.
but we take it out in growing and
there's an end of it. Our officers are
O. X, and we all know that we are
especially lucky as to that. ! am we'll
and happy and will write again as
soon as there is anything to write
Your loving son.
Donald Bond Johnston.
Corp. Headquarters Co., 44th Regt.
Engineers, Am. +. F.