The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-03-18

The letter
ON active service with the American
Expedition, Somewhere in France.
Christmas. 1917.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. g. Groves.
Gary. Indiana.
ny Gear friends When you are
thousands OF miles away from home ana
loved onsS on a day like this and on a
mission like the one We are on. some
how PERSONS mind viii wander back
TO years gone by and YOU think OF
friends you never had given the proper
thought OF when you were not so FAR
away That ia Just the poNtion 1 md
myself IN today and after listening 70
all the other boys, who are quartered in
the same hut with me tell OF their past
experience on this day. my own poor
mind 1anders back TO the Christmas a
couple Of years ago when I was mem
Der Of your happy household. There
fore this. dare say unexpected letter
That Chritmss comes IS clear 10 me ss
though it happened last week, and / can
shut my eyes and picture myself sick
in bed and ell you know trying TO make
things comfortable for me.
Recalls Xmas.
Il can also picture the arrival OF he
midnight taxi and the reception which
greeted the occupants Sometime. and
while today was an eventful day, be
1ieve / would enjoy that same Christ
mas Of few years over sgain. And l
sincerely hope that IL Christmas Of 1917
wasn't a comparison Of that year it was
a thousand times more happier for your
people.
Sought Early Service
Now to get down 10 the facts OF my
being out here on this day Would say
that when the good president advised we
poor mortals that we were needed in
France l at once decided through sense
of adventure and patriotic duty that
surely l must 60 to France. and could
not decide what branch Of service I
could best serve IN and after investigst l.
ing found the engineers corps would be
the first 10 sail. I then knew that was
my branch, SO hurried TO St. Louis and
signed up: and II wasn't long until We
started our journey TO Somewhere N
France and lost no time en- route TO the
nei ghborhood OF NO mans land
Sees King of England
However. we took one DAY off and
went TO London so his majesty King
George the nth could look over bunch
of 'Ysnks' or 'Sammies' as we are best
known and from tho accounts in the
English papers we made tremendous
hit l know the reception was beyond
expectations. The English people
Speaking strictly American) simply
Vent bugs We also came in for an
honor or distinction in doing this as we
were the first Americans Of any armed
troops to pass through London for cen
turtles back. we then hurried 10 the
seat Of action. although preceded hare
by the first bunch Of the eNpeditionary
force We again he'd the honor and dis
ton of being the nrst TO serve in our
own particular way, which is operating
the Deokeryills or light railways For
the past five or six months we have been
right along the line where the heaviest
part Of the fighting has been going on
50 You can rest assured that we arc get
ting plenty of action and thrills OF about
as many varieties and thrills as Mr.
Heintz's products. We are keeping up
the American standards in all our I'M
dertakings and am filled with conf
dence that the people back home. who
proud Of Americas part in this war as
history viii prove they have never fallen
down in q test Of tins kind
War. like everything else. has a hui
man side to il and ! am sorry censor
ship VIII not allow me TO relate some Of
thenl-but no chance at this time
Hopes for nsaye.
7 expect to be granted leaye one CT
these days. which viii enable me to get
back 70 civilization and when this day
comes will try 20 locate some kind Of
souvenir of France and send it TO you
people.
How arc Mr. end Mrs Sefton9 Ny
deepest regards TO them, also 10 your
people in Cincinnati and Covington.
whom l had the pleasure OF meeting
while a member or your home. In case
any OF my old friends care TO write
letter or card addressed to Corporal I'd