The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-11-16
From Kearnie Denton.

Z TO1u A6dIu16 LEMON.
Well. at last I am able 10 write
again. not that l have been sick. but
worse than busy; haven't had any day
light to myself for weeks Guess the
last letter I wrote home. I was up at
the front and leaving for the trenches
to put up wire that night.
Well. believe me. that night was
hot one and I'll never forget it About
midnight CUR artillery put over aaoth-
er barrage. both aiming at the front.
and We were right in the middle Of it
all and we stayed there. too. until
we came out alive. l didn't seem
bit scared, while 1 was in il. but af-
ter 1 got back and thought about 1t.
then's when I shivered.
When : fellow is chased around from
place to place they soon get so they
don't fear death any more than eat
ing There are many men on the line
that would go over the top every hour
If they could.
We got back to our camp about
$3.50 a. m. and left the next day. /
sure was all in TO start with We
hIked many miles. Now I am away
from the roar of the guns. away back
in a pretty little village working on
a pretty soft job compared to lighting.
The only trouble Is long hours and
Sunday work. I am writing by candle
light. No light allowed on account OF
airplanes We got this easy job be-
cause our company did such good
fighting during our two battles. 1 was
up a the front under IRE for four
teen days. day and night. and believe
me I consider myself lucky to come
out whole-dead for sleep and rest
was all. 1 have dandy bunk Of hay
now to sleep on and a root beats
mud all to pieces. The American en-
durance IS wonderful and 1t sure is
besting the Huns. Just a few hours
rest and they are ready to go again.
Before I didn't believe a man could
possibly stand what I have and live.
but I never felt better in my life. now
since I've had a few nights of sleep.
Suppose the people there are just
wild over the latest victories for US.
but they don't know half. l wouldn't
take a million dollars for my exper-
fence If some Of the yellow slackers
could only have seen some Of the
things we saw. they would go out and
commit suicide. See the eager young
lads rush over the top and face death
for the Americans without a finch.
There is no driving by officers in our
army. Everyone Is an officer.
That fellow. Jack Ney. from Ham
mond. who was injured IN our first
battle is well and back with the COM
pany now. He Just got back today
only gone about five weeks. He's very
proud Of his wound stripe.
Maybe Lillian told you about where
I am working In a French generals
castle and is a real castle. The most
Beautiful place I've seen outside Of
the Vosges mountains where I've been
It is surrounded by a high stone wall
and miles of Vineyards; inside there are
beautiful drives. rose beds riding
grounds. fountains. everything is won
derful. We work inside the wall and
are allowed to go any place we want
(mostly the wine cellar for this bunch).
The work isn't hard but we work from
daylight to dark and every day. Get
swell eats here now. There is no "Y''
here but they drive to Toul and get
candy and sweets for US. / got a can
Of hard candy tonight for "a francs I
or soc. Sure tastes good. as 1 have
not had any for so long.
I didn't finish last night. I had to
put my light out have a little
time in daylight right now. They
sent US about ten miles in a truck
this morning to get a bath and de
loused." also new clothes. I sure feel
better now to get cleaned up and rid
OF my little companions. coolies" We
got back a little early. SO I'll finish
now before dark. 1 saw some more
German prisoners on the way back,
10.
this front. We can just barely hear
the guns back here.
When we were in line for new cloth
ing this morning. one of the fellows
started to take the clothes: he looked
up and 1t was his brother handing
them TO him. They hadn't seen each
| other for a year. 1t was some sur
prise. So far / haven't met a single
person I knew before It is almost
winter here. very cold at night We
have a little stove here in our billet
but can't get much wood. The leaves
are falling. also English walnuts and
hazelnuts. They are very thick. and
grapes are ripe. I full all the
time when I can swipe them. But
take every thing good over here, put
1t all together and I'll take old Amer
lea for mine every time In every
way we have them outclassed
Today. the End of October is the day
Bulgaria fell through. All the French
people are rejoicing. They think it
means immediate peace. I do not I'M
derstand the situation down there but
/ do here. 1 know Germany had bet
ter lay down soon or there won't be
| any Germany 1t looks very satisfac-
tory. We are pushing the thing to