The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1918-11-14
LETTER FROM
HAROLD B. POOL

1AA A4SVAD - L WI
The following is a letter received
by DR.. Pray, from Harold B. Pool,
formerly connected with the Dakota
Drug Company Of this city,now sta
toned at Base hospital No. 63, Am.
E. F.
October 16, 1918.
Dear Doctor: I have intended for
some time to write letter to you, but
somehow l did not seem to get started.
Well, l have seen great deal Of the
U. S. and France since l left Valley
City. Wehave been in France for
about two months and are having
what we call a great time, but there
re many times that it cannot be called
pleasure.
l was on duty at the port Of EN-
barkation at Hoboken, N. j., for about
eight months, and had just about Civ
en- up hopes Of ever getting over here,
when my commission came along and
l was assigned to this hospital for
over seas duty at once. / was on my
way to France within sixteen days
after that. We had a fine trip over,
and made it in record time, and since
that every thing has had to be done
just as fast. We are stationed in
"Caen," France, about $50 miles west
Of paris, and straight south Of Lon
don. The town is very old and about
a hundred times behind times in ev-
erything. 1t is one Of the old camp
ing grounds and headquarters of Will
liam The Conqueror, and during the
18th century was the center of many
battle between the English and
French. Many of the old land marks
can still be seen in the town. I have
not seen one building of brick or wood
since we arrived here. Everything is
made of soft stone and rock. The town
has few modern stores, and many
poor cafes" The stories of the peo-
pie in France being short Of many
things is not true in this section. The
only things that they are near short
Of is flour and sugar. Some of the
other things are high in price, and all
the more high when an American
wants it. But at that the French are
doing all they can to make life pleas
ant for US and will do any thing we
ask them and then stand around for
more work. All of the work is done
by old men and girls. There is not a
young man in town unless he has been
discharged from the army as disabled
for life. The country around Caen is
very beautiful and is certainly being
all used up, as every piece of land no
matter how small it is, is being used
as farm or small garden. When we
first came here we had lot of spare
time, so we took many short strips
around the country, and to the English
Channel. On a bright day we can see
the coast of England, from a point
about nine miles north of here. There
are no easy means of travel so we
have taken most Of our trips on a BIZ
cycle or have walked.
There are no American troops near
here, but it seems to be great hos
pital center for all allied nations.
haven't the least idea where the 164th
infantry is located at but am doing
what l can to locate them and pay
them visit, as haven't seen any
one from Valley City since l left
there. It would be no use for me to
give any war "dope" as it would be
month or more old when this letter
reaches you. We get news direct from
the front several times day so we
can keep in close touch with every
thing. All the French ca nsal is
"fnis-finis" meaning that the war is
Just as good as over. The soldiers of
all the nations do not want peace now
as they want to finish it with a mill
tary victory alone, but of course all
of the civilians want it over as soon as
it can be done, and it looks now as If
that will be done very soon. The
French soldiers claim they can drive
all Germans back to their own land
within five months, and one will al
most be made to believe it after see
ing the courage and watching their
manner of carrying out the war.
had long talk with one of the
surgeons of our unit last week and
found out that he used to live in VAL
lev. His name is Frederick R. Sims.
Do YOU remember him? He wants to
be remembered to the Baileys, Mel
sons, Getchells, Winterers and Dr.
Pray. His father was in Dakota
about two years ago and was on the
Valley City Chautauqua program.
Give my best regards to the rest
of the Valley City Drs., and tell them
all to drop a line to me whenever they
have time. Do you know where DR..
Livingston is at. If he is over here,
will YOU let me know what organiza-
ton he is with and l will try to look
him up. We only have one officer
from Dakota. 1t. Engerstacher from
Park River. All of the rest are from
the Eastern part of the U. S., and all
of the enlisted men are from Pennsyl-
vania. Drop line to me some time
and let me have some news from VAL
lev. Even if the war is over this week
or next week, our unit will probably
be here for at least year more SO
news from home will be appreciated
much.
Regards to all,
spool"
This address will reach me.
1t. Harold B. Pool,