Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-08-12
|BEEBE TELLS OF
| men IN France
Sergeant with Former Company G
Here Writes Interesting Letter
From Front Line Trenches
in France.
TELLS OF WEBSTER CITY BOYS.
Gives an Account of Life in the Front
Line and Attacks by the Ger.
TELLS OF WEBSTER CITY BOYS.

julius Bermann is in receipt of a
letter from Sergeant z. w. Beebe
of the Headquarters, First battalion
16Sth Infantry-the Rainbow divi-
sion. Sergeant Beebe lived in EN-
mets5urg and was formerly a men,
Der of Company c OF the old Second
Iowa which was recruited in this
city. He was transferred to the
Rainbow division along with hun
dred others from the companies re-
cruited here. His letter is very new
isy and tells many interesting facts
concerning a number of the Webster
City boys overseas The letter fol-
lows:
Dear Mr.. Bermann: While running
through the Webster City paper this
evening noticed one of your ads,
this being the first that / had heard
of your taking over the store, and
take this opportunity to wish you the
best of luck in your new venture.
Since coming to this side of the
water l have had little to remind me
of Webster City and the people there
except the daily papers which come
more or less irregularly. l always
send them around as much as posi-
Bile to the different companies where
the fellows are so they all have some
of the news.
Boys Split Up.
Since coming over from the Second
we have been split up and sent from
one company to another until there
are fellows in nearly every company
of the regiment. So far as 1 know
we are all alive with the exception Of
Wedding and one of the Waterman
boys. James Wedding, who was in
the stokes mortar platoon, was killed
in action and now lies in a grave
back of the lines. 1t is beautiful
spot and l hope to get picture OF
it for his mother. He was good
soldier, well liked by his officers and
the men under him. But he has paid
the big price. 1t is hard luck, but
only one of the things that We must
expect. Waterman was caught in
the gas attack OF May 9th and sent
to base hospital where he died.
Tells of Men.
! Paul Nickerson, who is in the sup
ply company, has been made a ser
geant and is one of the valuable men
of the company. / see him quite Of
ten and he is always the old good
natured Paul. He has no doubt sent
several of his cartoons to the paper
depicting life "over here"
Bert Dragoo has been on duty with
the battalion scouts and from the
way his commander speaks is a val
liable man. Milo Foster is with Com
pany c, acting as company barber
and runner. Between the two, he is
on the go from morning 20 night.
| ollS1SOA ouSll dlC III AASduquol-
tiers company, the former in the cam
outage section and the latter in the
gun platoon, but both of them are
well and happy as are most of the
fellows
Looks for Promotion.
Until the last of March l was with
regimental headquarters, but since
then have been with the LIST battalion,
acting sergeant major, and really en-
ioying life. The work is pleasanter
and easier than up there and gives
me chance to be with the fellows
more. Will probably get the appoint
ment in couple of weeks now as
the school that the former sergeant
major went to is nearly over and he
is to get commission.
Lieutenant Blake was transferred
to the 32nd division, but is now back
with us as they had their full quota
Of officers. He has very evidently
been working hard for considerable
flesh has disappeared and he is down
to fighting trim.
In Front Line.
While up front the last time with
the battalion, / went through several
thrilling little scenes such as gas at
tacks and air raids. The second night
4 in Fritz got busy with a gas projec-
tor attack and caused US to wear our
masks for several hours. l happened
to be up taking a message over the
phone when the projectors exploded
and l can safely say that have new
er heard anything like it before.
Headquarters was in big stone cha
teau and it fairly rocked. We were
expecting the attack for a prisoner,