Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-12-28
SALEM BOY WENT SIX
WEEKS WITHOUT BATH
WHILE N Trenches
Corporal Theron Hoover
Writes From Belgium. .--E1-
pects To Be Home Soon.

Mrs. L. @ Farmer of 24o Wilson
street, 10 in receipt of the following
letter from her brother, Corporal Their
on c. Hoover Co. A, 355th U. s. In
fantry:
Virton, Belgium, Nov. 26, 1918
Dear Sis: Well at last ] have
chance to write you letter. l have
been too busy lately and unable to get
any paper to write to any one.
At present ! am in Belgium, in
city about the size of Nevers, where
we were stationed when we first ar
rived overseas, but this place has been
affected great deal more by the
war. We are in barracks and have
good hunks now and it certainly seems
good after sleeping in the mud and
rain for so long.
l was on the Argonne sector when
the big show ended and am not asham-
ed to say that | am glad that it is
over. was also in the st. Mihiel drive
toward Metz, but the last was the
worst of all. We drove them so fast
that the kitchen could not keep up
and once we got only two hot meals
in nine days. Also went from the 1st
of Nov. till the 18th with just a rain
coat to keep me warm and it certainly
was cold and wet. But what of itY lit
is all over now and L am still alive.
think l have lost about fifteen pounds
since went to the front on Sept. 18th.
Have not been paid since July and l
guess there is slim chance of getting
anything, the way it looks. There is
one thing l hope and that is that l get
back to Salem before Co. M does or
the fellows L left with SO that l can
stand on the corner and see them
come home. I hope to be home between
now and the first of March. For a
while / thought i would get to spend
Xmas in. New York but guess the
chances for mat are slim now. When !
do get home l will eat everything in
the house and will sure pity the gro
Gerry bill the first month. Believe me
/ am going to make up for lost time
and lost meals. They gave us a half
pound of candy apiece last week and
| ate all mine in 80 minutes.
Well the 1lth Of December makes
Just year Of overseas service for me.
Wish l could leave for horne on that
date.
We are fixed pretty comfortable here
even have electric lights in our room,
but they don't do us any good; they
wont burn. am going to sleep with
my clothes off tonight for the first
time since Sept. 18th, over two months
ago. I wonder what sheets will feel
like again. Now don't you imagine q
fellow will appreciate home after all
we have gone through. Went SIX weeks
once without having bath. !.
Well sis / must close as this is all
the paper / have so you must pass
this letter around and make it answer
for SEVERAL
Young Hoover is the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. r. N. Hoover of 565 North Cot
tage street, and enlisted in Co. M the
day war was declared, being only IL
years old at that time. He spent hls
21st birthday in the trenches and has
no doubt seen as much real fighting
as any of the Salem boys.
This is the first letter received from
him since the armistiee was signed
and a postal card received yesterday at
ternoon conveys the information that
his company has been selected for the
march into Germany, which is consid-
cred duite an honor.