Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-21
HISTORY OF co. C'S
HEROIC FIGHTING
tC0atlnued from page ID


-ange our battalion headquarters Div
yies (hutsl were torn 10 pieces by
heavy she'll fire. was on Obserya-
ion duty at the Australian sector.
We took up positions at the Eng
81 sector at Albert. there | did regi-
mental and battalion observation and
scout duty. | can say they are pretty
good al locating an observation post,
or / was shelled out OF every post
hat took over, but by the time was
coated | generally had enough infor-
nation on their posts and positions TO
send them to --. You see the OBJ
,erver gets their position, sends the
map location to the artillery and up
soes some Jerrys. We were there
light days, no casuals on this front
>ut some mighty close calls.
After we We're relieved we liked
back TO Amiens and entrained, After
'iding 4 couple OF days we arrived
It a village named Nancy-la-Petite
IN dbilleted TO rest 1t was in this
illage that | was transferred to Co.
G headquarters and was made bugler
IN the lines, that is i was signal
man and runner That is TO take mes
ages to wherever they want to send
5ou and at any time. After three
weeks rest and a few maneuyers we
.ook trucks for the French sector at
Verdun. After riding and hiking
round for some time We took up our
positions by small town, Esnes.
This was strictly American sec
| or We took it over on the night OF
| Sept. and held the line until We Went
)ver on Sept &c. The prisoners came
back in droves. Heavy casualties be
gan to hit us here, mostly wounded
and gassed The objective was gained
| and We took position in the old Ger
nan support lines near Bethencourt
| After resting two days we took up al
| advanced position and relieved tht
| 3lth Regiment on what We callet
Whiz Bang Hill, on the west banl
If the Meuse River. Here we haC
heavy casualties from gas and severa
If our boys were killed by artillery
ire. Here is where | got my first gas
hat is in my system, but | stuck i
| ant | 4 fn,
our days and they sent me back [,
the support lines about two hundreD
Yards. Shell fire was just as bad bu
| could lie down and rest. | stayet
n the first sergeant's dugout. Ate
we were there nine or ten days ",
were relieved and went back to Beth
IN court for a three days rest. Thel
We Went nto action on the east BAN
| y the Meuse. Our kitchens and frs
| id stations were in a town close t.
he lines named Consenvoy All O
he towns and cities close TO thes
fronts are shelled to the grount
Here we advanced into the Argonn
forest and got our first two prisoners
The captain let me take them bac
fer information. While at the priso
cage | tCok sick. My throat began t
bother lie and the doctor told me nc
go back to the lines for few day
but | went back as far as our sou
, kitchens. There our medical majo
! examined me and sent me to the no,
pital. ! arrived here the 18th of OF
| tober.
, am at present in base hospital s!
but am aching to return to my con
pany. ! was over to the receivin
: ward the goth with the bunch that wa
, goiaG out hut they did not have m
name on the evacuation list so
will have to wait for the next buncl
Gene Friesel and Thomas O'Neil WEI
and you can bet hated to see thel
go, as We were together all the tim
Haven't had any mail since | hay
been here and get pretty lonesom
sometimes after getting eight and te
letters at each delivery in the reg
ment
| sure will have a big letter
write when | get back to the compan
and get my mail
Don't worry over me for am fec
ing fine and all traces Of gas an
, throat trouble have left me.
VIII close now as am getting tire
'aye my love to all the folks wis
ing you AN Merry Xmas and Hapr
New Year.
FRANK.