The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-24

his neighbOr, and listens while thu
neighbor tells what son said to him
Here are samples of letters to dad:
H. Fisher received the following
letter from his son Oda recently
The letter was written at Red
Cross hopistal, where Oda is con
| valesing:
American Red Cross, Nov. "a, 1918
Dear Dad:
Will try and write you a few lines
being as this is to be your Christ.
mas letter.
l am still at the hospital but get.
ting better every day. They say that
we are going to be shipped back to
the States from here, but l don't
know when my time will come.
AS the censor will not read this
letter l am going to tell you few OF
my experiences while in France.
When they transferred us out of the
old outfit l was transferred to the
forty-second division, 1877 infantry.
They were men from Alabama and
a mighty good bunch too; altho there
aren't very many of them left. About
two weeks after l was assigned to
them we started for the front. We
were the first division to hold Sec
tor on the front. We held it for
100 days and had good time there
because it was quiet sector and
nothing but raids and night patrol
ing and l managed to get my share
of 1t all. l forgot to tell you that
Herb Neider, King and France were
transferred to the division, after we
landed on the front. Guy Faulconer
was in 1t too. l don't know where
the rest of the boys are.
Well, from the Lorraine front we
were sent to the Champagne front.
After several nights Of hard hiking
with heavy packs we averaged
twenty-five miles a night for three
nights in succession. When the
Boche started their drive ON the
fifteenth of July we were ready to-
hold them. We had been living out
in the open since July 4, digging
trenches at night and getting what
sleep we could in the day time. At
IL o'clock on the night OF the four
teenth the Boche began to throw over
one of the heaviest commandments
of the war. We beat 1t to the
trenches to get what protection we
cold. Some of the boys were un-
lucky, but they died cheerfully. 1t
was our first experience under heavy
fire and believe me we sure held up
fine. The Boche came over at s
O clock, but we held them with the
French Blue Devils at our side.-
From the Champagne we were
sent to Chateau Thierry. You have
probably read about how we pushed
the famous Prussian guards fifteen
kilometers across the Ourcq river
capturing q number of town. 1t was
there we learned to live in holes
just large enough to crawl into.
We went back Of the lines and got
six day rest Then we started again
toward the front. On September II
we started the st. Mireil drive. 1t
was raining when we went over the
top and there was a rainbow across
the sky. As this is called the rain
bow division it cherred the boys up
q whole lot. For two days we drove
the Boche back making our objec-
tive each day. 1t was on this drive
that Guy Faulconer was killed. We
trenched then for about two weeks,
then we were relieved and sent to
the Verdun front, where we helped
do some more driving. We were in
support of the front line companies.
AS we were crossing an open field
the Boche spied w and threw bar
rage right into our midst. Shells
were falling everywhere A very
dear chum of mine was killed within
three feet of men and not a piece
hit me. sure thanked God that
day for saving me from those shells.
Our company got shot up badly that
day; some were lost, others were
killed and wounded.
After spending five days on the
front we were sent back. Here was
where most of the men got sick
from being in shell holes half full
of mud and water and nothing to
eat and nothing to keep you warm
but wet rain coat and 1t raining
all the time. Who wouldn't get
sick? ! stood it all while we were
at the front, but when we got back
the reaction began to work on me.
Believe me I have been thru some
misery since / came here, but I'm
getting well fast now.
/ have told you about all the news
about myself. l hope this finds you
we'll. Get me job helping you at
the lumber yard and believe me
will work when get back, which /
hope will be soon.
I am so weak can hardly write.
| will close now as it Is getting late.
Answer soon and don't forget the
job.