Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1918-10-24
From Ira c. Stout

y ~ sstNA esAN w fSNh wv
were all We Ii at hnme, l am vel
and feeling fine, getting along
fine, like army life better ever,
day, although shells fall al
around US, but we don't MIND
that. I was eating my breakfas'
one morning when q 155 lit abou'
so feet from Us and filled my
coffee full Of mud. so that is al
the damage the Dutch have done
me out of lots of shells. We car
hear the German shells . Ions
ways of, But those Austria wifi
bangs slip up on US. We got 1
men killed the first day, but We
have made the Dutch pay fol
that several times, and they are
on the run and can't stop until
they get to Berlin. You asked il
any one of the boys were here ]
knew. Yes, Newt Sanders, Ar
thur Roper, Jim Tefteller, lille
Williams; John Cannifax and
several Douglas county boys. We
have lots of fun in spite of Ill the
shell for We see lots of air fights.
I have helped bury one Dutch
man. Oh, yes, l am cooking at
battalion headquarters, and l
gathered a big pot of green
beans out of a Datch garden and
had them for dinner two or three
days ago. Tell Grandpa I can't
tell how they used to do, only
they're hunting. hogs in this
country for US to get, so we can
have fresh meat, but lots of bac.
ON. Well, I haven't got any bugs
yet, lots of the boys bave-there
are lots here. Well, I can near
the big boys asking the Dutch to
move back and, believe me, they
are going, too, and they don't
have any idea where they can
stop, and this is a bad night; it is
raining and cold. Well, I sure
have got three good friends-my
45. gas mask and steel hat. My
steel hat protects my bead; my
mask, my lungs; my As gets the
Hun. Well, tell Pa that / know
he got lots to eat while he was
threshing but he hasn't got me
skinned a bit. We sure do have
lots to eat. Well. you SHOULD have
seen me the std day Of my real
experience. l was riding one
horse and leading one down a
road and a Dutchman in an aero.
plane turned a machine gun on
me and the way I went wasn't
slow. l think about it and laugh.
But he missed me by a little. Oh
yes, Herbert Short is here, too.
He is just a little ways from here
and is getting along fine as far as
| know. Have Jason and Robert
been called yet? l don't think
any of the last draft will have to
come over here; if they do, they
won't have much to do. I think.
I think the big time is about ov.
er, anyway. Where did Ernie
Crippen go for training and what
is his address? Well, I know you
sure had a nice visit with Aunt
Linda and Elvira. I am glad
they made you a visit.
Well. good morning! This is
Sunday. l will finish your letter
as shells were plentiful last
night. Fritz is still hammering
away but he shoots a while and
runs a while and l think his
shooting is almost done as he
doesn't scare the Sammies a bit
by bursting big shells around
them. We sure have a big time,
in spite of all Fritz can do, but l
must say this is a torn up place.
This battle field sure looks bad.
You can find anything you want
to look for, from a pistol TO a
cannon. The ground is decorated
with German helmets and Dutch
guns. Well, / would like to see
you all but can't say l am a bit
This soldering has to
be done and I like it fine. l know
il is dangerous but it is lots of
fun to see the Dutchman get out
Of his trench and run for his life
and throw up his hands and yell
''Camarad!" Well, l think we
will be in Germany in a very
shors time and. you know that
will moan Sect ont. Dutchmenif|