Arizona republican., 1918-07-17
WARD YOUNG TELLS IF FIGHTING; LOCAL
 BUY HIT BY SHELL

The censor monkeyed somewhat with the letter of Ward Young to his moth er Mrs. Otis E. Young, but he left enough of the missive to show that the young Phoenician likes the service in France and wants to be about where the star shells and the other bright lights are. He writes as follows: On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Forces,
 June 20, 1918 Dear Mother:
 I feel like new man again. We just got back to our camp after another whack at Fritz. Am all cleaned up, bath shave and clean clothes makes fellow feel good.
 We had quite an experience this last time. We all worked hard until every thing was ready and then a few of us were picked to stay and finish the work. It was work too. I have worked hard many times before in my life. Once when l handled a single jack in the shaft of the Vindicator and another time Fair week in Phoenix when 1 had my little shop but mother dear, that was boys play. In five hours I blis- tered my hands in great shape. Hands that are calloused all the time from hard work, heartbreaking work, work never could have done under other circumstances. When one knows he is helping to win the war, it nerves him and strengthens him to greater effort. Well, we were all Veady, most of the men went back to the camp in the morning. I was sitting in front of an open fire enjoying life, a bullet ex- ploded in the fire and a piece of the shell hit me in the finger. I received | first aid treatment at a dressing sta tion and was told to do no work. l was one of the men picked to finish the work and then little wound on the finger When the boys started up the line from the dugout and left me, felt like a lost soul. l went up to where few of them were receiving their final instructions from a lieutenant and begged to be allowed to go. He con- sented. He needed me. My small Knowledge of - work l did for the Santa F'e was all that got me the chance. We got up there and started to work. The word was passed to us we only had 30 minutes. We had a good hours work ahead of us to get ready, the race against time started. My pardner and had not a second to spare. The artillery opened up the :. .. (censored - Hun. Just as the whistle blew, I finished my I lN- glad l was to think I had succeeded, but l had no time to think of that then The shrapnel was breaking all around us, the star shells made everything as light as day. The machine gun bullets Tn their search for IT. made mo think of rattlesnake at night on the desert; you can hear him but you don't know where he is or where he will strike. On through the trenches we went, slipping and sliding, running and crawling. Fin ally. we made the dugout. Check was taken and all had returned safely. One boy hurt his leg in fall that was all. I had smoke and then crawled into bed tired but happy soldier boy. Oh mother, it is a great game, the excite ment of the moment. You can't hear yourself shout for the noise, the great shells overhead going both ways, the swish of the machine gun bullets, the wonderful lights. It all went to my head like glass of champagne on a cold night. It was wonderful.
 l am very well. mother dear, and will be working hard in day or two, just as soon as my finger heals up.
 I received three copies of The Re- publican, May 5. 6 and '; was glad tc get them. l read ads and all.
 I was interrupted about two hours ago. Had to go to the hospital. The doctor wanted to sec if there was an! brass left in the wound. He found none Just time and nature and it will be al o. K.
 Write often mother, dear to you three soldier boys. Give my love t, Dad and Otis and tell them to writ' often too.
 saw Vinton Hammels name in on, of the papers. I wish you would sent me his address. You can call his moth CT up on the phone and find out wha it is.
 It is time for mess, supper as it i known at home. or dinner as you woul, call it, but the army name is the mos appropriate. So will close. Keep m informed of the news and everything Regards to all my friends.
 Your loving son and soldier boy.
 Ward Priv. w. w. Young,
 Co B 30th Engineers, A. F. r. o. XII. J. B