The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-09-26
Greene County
Boy In France
Somewhere in Belgium. ("

When / wrote to you the other
night and told you of my experience
thought / was lucky; really was,
but the very next night | went to
take some patients to the ambulance
about one mile away and had just
gotten back when Major came up
and told me he was going up the
line again, but wouldn't take me, as
I had already run enough that night.
So ! came back to my dugout and
was reading love story in a book
had found when heard Fritz she'll
ing the road. / knew it was danger
Gus for any one to pass, but here
came Major and asked, "Who will
60 with me to the other aid post?"
None of the boys offered to go, so
l spoke up and said "I'll CO."
We started, but hadn't gone but
about fifty yards when big shrapnel
burst over my head and it fairly
rained around us. We went on and
met a poor fellow who was all UNI
nerved and had lost his gas mask
and was lost from HIS company. He
was carrying stretcher and was
given out / took his stretcher and
we started past where some English
men were staying. One stuck his
head out and said: "You chaps had
better hurry; Fritzie is Smelling this
place." We hadn't gone ten steps
when we heard one coming. We had
to lie fiat on the ground to prevent
being hit. 1t just missed us, but
threw dirt, rocks and pieces of shell
all about us; but, mother, felt like
the Lord was with me all the time
and we got there safely.
When we started back l saw he was
Smelling it badly. | used the Sam
mics byword, "The best O. luck,
chappy," but when we got into the
most dangerous part ! told the major
if he lived through it to send you
dear people the message that ! died
happy doing my duty. / felt the
pieces Of shells brush my knees and
one passed my ear faster and louder
than any band ever played "Dixie."
They were falling thick and fast, but
we got through without scratch,
only our knees were skinner by hit
ting the ground. It was a mystery
how we got through and I thanked
the dear Lord several times for guild
ing me through all right.
Last night we were warned to look
out for a gas attack. Fritz sent a
few gas shells and got three of our
boys pretty bad and / was sent in
charge of the stretcher-bearers flour
to stretcher) to carry these boys
back to the hospital. Just as we
started the sentry gave the gas alarm.
We all had to put on our gas masks.
/ went in front as guide to watch for
bitches and shell holes, which are
thick. / let my men rest twice, but
there is no rest as long as you wear
your mask. We got there o. X. AS
we were coming back an officer stop
ped us and said all was clear, so we
took them off. The men were loaded
with empty stretchers and blankets.
| was in front and passing through
swamp where the gas had settled,
| ran into it and was gassed proper.
Also one of the other boys. ! felt
as if my chest and throat were on
fire. began to get dizzy and was
coughing very hard when one Of the
medical officers came out and took me
in and after putting me comfortably
to bed / dozed off to sleep. / dream
ed / was at home with you and was
sitting there with my arm around
you telling you my experience. Then
they awoke me for my breakfast.
They are so kind to me. This morn
ing the commanding general and d.
vision surgeon were here and Major
told them of m ywork for which they
praised me very highly. Also the
work of the other boys; but l have
done no more than any real Amer
lean soldier should do and | am proud
/ was able to do the work and hope
I'm good for other days yet. Mother,
| have told nothing in boastful man.
ner, only told what did