The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-06
FROM BOYS
IN THE. ARMY CAMPS

InE AhMI GAMrO
Mr.. and Mrs. Otto Olson are in re
ceipt of the following letter from
their son, Reuben:
In France, October 26, 191S.-My
Dear Folks: Well how is everything
! with you all back home? am feel
| ing fine and hope that this finds yot
all the same. / was wounded a little
few days ago and am now back in
base hospital getting along fine. II
does not amount to much and will DC
out ir a couple of weeks. | was hit Ii
the left arm just above the elbow WITH
a piece of shrapnel. ] was operated
on and the piece removed so am oul
of all danger, SO don't worry about
me. Believe me it sure was some
fight and you should see those Outer
run. Will write more about the ngn'
when | get back to the company. Your
SON, Reuben.
France. November 4, 191S.-Deal
Mother: Well how is everything az
home these nice days? Things are
getting along just fine with me. MY
wound is getting along just hne.
I will try and tell you how got II
NV company went over the top a.
a. m. on the Is of October. we
were about 200 yards from the Huns
when we started and we pushed them
back about one and one-haf miles
and then we run into a German
strong point ard had to stop and dle
in this Was about 1890 at noon SC
/ and another fellow dug hole To-
eether and all the time we were dig.
eing the bullets were falling around
us like rain. Well l just got into my
hole when a three inch shell prohe
about five feet from us and got d
small piece of it in the arm. 1t dld no'
bnrt much at first so / did not think
II amounted to much until l saw some
blood running down my arm, SO
went to a first aid man and had IL
dressed and he sent me back to nrs'
aid station. l picked up fellow whC
was shot through the leg and helped
him to the rear saw some terrible
things ard hope to God l will not nave
to see them same sights. l Will never
forget. Well must close for TINS
time. Your son, Reuben.
The following is a letter written by
Alvin Acker to his brother, Arthur
Acker. in Augusta, Wis. Mr.. Acker
attended the Commercial college in
this city and made his home with
Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bacon. He en-
listed here on May 9, 1917, and on
June 6 of that year he sailed for
France:
Somewhere on Earth, October Il,
191S.-Dear Brother: Received your
letter today and was sure glad to get
it and know you are better again. 1t
was sure some surprise to me as sis
ter wrote and said you were sick. l
was where felt sick once in a while,
hut that was when l heard one of those
big buckets of steel coming toward
us and believe me it sure makes a
fellow feel as though life isn't worth
a nickel, but when fellow gets
back away from it, it seems funny
how a person can get through it
where steel is fving in all directions
and then at night to hear old Fritz
come over with his airplanes and
you imagine he,is right over you as
long as you hear him.
Oh yes, it's some life sleeping out
in the Cren with a blanket, a tree or
the sky for roof and lucky if it isn't
raining and the ground is damp al:
the time anyway. It's sure some re-
lief u-bon fo11ovu oofc 70 h;ilof
where he can keep little dry and
have a good nights sleep and knows
that he is going to get three good
squares day, but when we are on
the move there is day and night at
time that we don't get nothing but
| would rather go through this, than
what you had to go through.
see you are at home now, are
you going to stay there or go back?
Have you enlisted yet or don't you
have to yet? When you do you want
to go into the quartermaster CORPS as
motor mechanic or driver. You
can handle machine can't you?
They need them over here and if
you get into an infantry get into the
supply company as / am.
Well. I'm still in the best of health
and always helping to chase the
kaiser down and believe me, we will
soon have him where we want him
and the sooner it's over with the bet
ter like it. Well, must close hoping
10 near from you again as many times
as possible and to see you all at
nome soon. l am as ever,
four brother, Alvin. Private Alvin
Acker, Supply Co. 18th Inf. American
e. F. France.
WeH-knoWn Resident of nanuiII.