The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-31

lows to start things. They started a
newspaper of their own in France
They started many other things. in
Guiding the drive to Berlin. They
started the idea of a Fathers day,
when everybody should write letter
to his father. There have been
Mothers days and Chldren's days
and various other days, but father
never had an inning till now, and the
! twenty-fourth of November was set
aside for writing to him and telling
something of the trip or the expert
ence in the war, with the result that
fathers all over the United States are
watching the mail now for letters,
with almost as keen interest as they
did in courtship days. After the let
ter arrives, dad reads parts of it to
his neighbor, and listens while the
neighbor tells what son said to him.
Here are samples Of letters to dad:
Ernest ,Bjorkman of Firth received
the following letter from his son
Joel, who is with the A. e. F. in
France, and at the present time is
convalesing in hospital:
France, Nov. "a, 1918.
Dear Father:
Being that this has been desig-
mated fathers letter day in the A.
E. F. and the rigorous rules of CEN
sorship somewhat lifted I'll write
you few lines and tell some Of the
things that have occurred since l ar
rived in this country.
We sailed from Boston harbor the
morning of August 9, boarding the
ship about 3 a. m. There were eigh-
teen ships in our convoy. We cir
cled about in the ocean for eighteen
days. Once we were up among the
icebergs and at other times we were
in very warm zones. We landed in
the Thames river in the outskirts of
London and from there we went by
rail thru Winchester to South Hamp-
ton, England. The following even
ing we crossed the English channel
and landed at La Harve, France, on
the morning Of August 20. We re-
manned there the following day and
night and then travelled for three
days until we came to a small town
called St. Martin, near La Gurche,
where we staid for about two weeks,
when we were transferred to the
Twenty-eighth division, which we
Joined at Clearmont, near Verdun.
On the morning of September 26,
we hoped over the top and were in
the front line of advance until
got hit late in the evening of the
twenty-ninth. This was at small
town called Montblainville in the
Argonne Forest. At that point the
Boche counter attacked in great
numbers while we were only few
in our first line. They came up to
within an easy stones throw before
we could distinguish them. They
Used hand grenades almost entirely.
We had shot dawn the first two
waves and were working on the third
when they got me.
Out outfit was ALL gone by that
time but the lines in support came
up and finished the Hun and drove
him back. Since then I've been in
the hospital under the care of the
Red Cross. I expect now to be on
my way home in a very short time
and shall hope to find you all we'll
Az pIcScuC du d. pldSO eoiiCi
(censored,) near (censored,) in the
Department Of Loire which is about
100 kilometers west of Switzerland
and the same distance south of Metz.
Wishing you and all the folks a
merry Christmas and happy and pros
porous new year, l am
Sincerely your son,
JOEL A. BURKMAN.
The following letter is written to
Mrs. John King of Taber by her son,