The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-08-08
A LETTER FROM
RED PAUL NOEL
THOUGH DEAD, HE sPEAKETH
FROM BEYOND THE SEAS.
WRITTEN UPON EVE OF BATTLE
Paul Uses Prophetic Words, awe
See the Beginning Of the End
Dies Before His Message
Reaches Destination.

Like a voice from the great beyond
yesterdays mail brought to Art OPP.
penheimer letter from the late Paul
or Red" Noel, written July 8, about
a week before he was fatally wound
ed, in action on the front. The let
ter is so like Red" that in following
it's lines one can almost hear his
voice. The sentiments expressed
contain his very presence. The let
ter will be read with keen interest
by the many friends of the lad here.
The Letter.
July 8, 1918.
Somewhere, as usual.
| Dear Art and Others Your let
ter of June received some days
ago and how welcome it was!
Uncle Sam beat me out of my B. V.
DIS all right, bat he issued Ballbrig-
gan undershirts. 1t is the kind with
the gauze down the seam. You re-
member that we used to have few
customers for them. They must
have been in the army at one time
because they make one real comfort
able undershirt. am real pleased
with mine. | am still fussy about
clothes but it don't make much diff
ference. You have to take what they
issue you, but it helps to boiler now
and then. That is where l have all
my trouble. With the supply agent,
and around the cook shack. But that
is only once and awhile when have
the blues. Something goes wrong
you know. am not great deal
different than when at home. Oh,
no? Tell you the truth, had forgot
ten all about my insurance policy.
We will have 'old settlers day" be-
fore long. We see the beginning
of the end over here.
About Leaves.
got a nice long letter from Frank
Wright not long ago. He is still in
England. Says he likes it great. He
is in the best branch of the service,
the aviation, and so why shouldn't he.
Every eight days they get two day
pass and that is what | call system.
But wait until he gets over here in
France. Here that leave stuff is one
big joke. With us it is S. o. S.
That was pretty good about Perry
Newton and l being in Italy. We
did put in a leave for there. That is
we put down we wanted to go there
on our leave. That was some four
months ago and no leave as yet. I
have changed my mind about going
there, that is if l ever get my leave
| If | do ! am going to AK lie Bainen
! ct is spelled something like that &.
There they have everything in the
way of amusement and good things
to cat.
On Scout Duty.
There isn't much | can say that
| hasn't already been said about the
battalion, platoon or scouts las we
are called) or observers. 1t is diff
ferent work than done in the COM
pany. A few men out of each COM
pany in the battalion are picked for
! it.
"Beany" McCord keeps writing that
he wants to come over, and he real
ly does. Well | don't blame him as
/ would rather be soldering over
here than back home.
Into Action.
Now about the Fourth, that grand
and glorious day. l spent it differ
ent than l thought / would and hope
never to spend another.
On the night of the 3rd we were
just getting ready for the hay. |
mean straw. Orders came to roll
packs. 1t wasn't long until we were
on the march. We kicked and hiked
over gravel road. They have great
roads over here but not for march
ling. Just like walking over miles
and miles of hard pointed cinders on
ly they are stones. And oh! how
sore my feet were, as If my shoes
were full of needles. when We finally
reached our destination. also
carried good 20 lbs. of equipment
We arrived at J.. Pitched tents
and then got some sleep about one
lip. m. We got a little sleep, had
breakfast and were feeling as fit as
ever. Ipnever realized that man
could go through so much. The
army is sure great place to harden
one up.
i Was Feeding Well.
1t is now noon, chow time. Bill
Blake and Deans turn on kitchen
and am wondering what we will have
Maybe Stun. sure hope not.
have been feeding pretty good Nov
for some chow.
PVT. NOEL.
Got new customer today from
headquarters company, a good spend
er for a soldier