The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-11-01
LETTERS FROM THE
BOYS IN ARMY CAMPS

the following letter from their son
Frank, who is horseshoer of Head.
quarters company No. Isl, Field Ar
tillery, France.
| France, September IA, 1918. Dear
Parents. l received your most well
come letter the other day and sure
was glad to hear from you. an
in good health and hope you are al
the same. The story that you heard
about Lester Lang being dead is not
true. The horse that he was riding
was killed and he got piece OF
shrapnel, hit him in the ankle and
the foot / was learning veterinary
work about horses feet in school and
also get an examination to see if
know my business. passed O.. K.
and also got good recommend. You
will see by the paper about our boys
on the Toul front. We sure had
some time to keep up to the Dutch
We are on soil that the Germans held
for four years. They left everything
behind. Well it sure is interesting
to be on the front. believe we
have every make of trucks and cars
that there is made. Every man, in
the company has horses once in
while. some. horses get killed OF
wounded. am sending you a picture
of German grave yard and also a
shoulder strap of one of the German
crown princes soldiers. / took il off
myself, Well as. my letter is long
will close for this time. Best wishes
to all. | remain your son, Frank.
Answer soon.
The following is the. circular letter
referred to by Mr.. Wild:
i. Headquarters, Forty Second Divi-
sion, American Expeditionary Forces,
France, August IS, 191S.--To the Of
ficers and Men OF the Forty Second
Division: A year has elapsed since
the information of your organization.
1t is. therefore, fitting to consider
what You have accomplished as a
combat division and what you should
prepare to accomplish in the future.
Your first elements entered the
trenches in Lorraine OH February
list. You served on that front for
ITO days, You were the first American
division to hold a divisional sector
~AAN riiSh you lClL tHc S0ClOT Jun6
Mst. YOU had served continuously as
division in the trenches for long
or time than any other American di-
vision. Although you entered the
sector without experience in actual
warfare. you SO conducted yourselves
as to win the respect and affection
of the French veterans with whom
you fought. Under gas and lombard
ment. in raids, in patrols, in the heat
OF hand to hand. combat and in the
long dull hours of trench routine so
trying to soldiers spirit, you bore
yourselves in a manner worthy of the
traditions of our country.
You were withdrawn from Lorraine
ana moved Immediately to the Cham
payne front where during the critical
days from July 18th to July 18th.
you had the honor of being the only
division to fight in Cen.
era! Gouraud's army which so glori-
ously obeyed his order. eve will
stand or die" and by it's iron de-
tense crushed the. German assault
and made possible the, offensive of
July 18th to the west of Reims.
From Champagne you were ca1Ied
10 take part in exhibiting the success
north 0 fthe Marine. Fresh from tho
uattle front before Chalons, you were
!, against the picked troops of.
Germany. ), For eight consecutive
Jays, you attacked skillfulIy prepared
posltlons. You captured great stores
q arms and munitions. You forced
tne crossing of the Ourcq. You took
alll 2l2. Sergy, Meurcy Ferme and
oerlnges by assault. You drove tho
enemy, Including an Imperial Guard
DIVISION. before you for a dentb If
hIteen kllometers. When your infan-
Try was relieved, it was i'm full mr..
SUIT or the retreating Germans. and
your artillery continued to propress
and support another American divi1
sion in the advance to the VasIa
roi your services in Lorraine
our olVlslon was formally commend,
~ IN general orders by the French
army corps under which YOU served
vi you rservices in Champa ene
your assembled officers received tho
personal thanks and commentaries
Oh General Gouraud himself For
your services at the Ourco. your A.
VISION was officially complimepted in
ietter from the commanding gen
1918. 'oips' VI july 2Sth,
10 your success, all ranks and eli
services have contributed, and 7 de-
ssiie 10 express to every main in the
vo4aa my appreciation of his de-
'o1eu ana courageous effort.
however, our, position places a b,,r-
len OF responsibility upon us which
nuSt strive to bear steadily forward
wi.nout faltering. To our comrades
who have fallen, we eve tba sa oues
AL atlon OF maintaining the reputa
non which they died to establish M
! n M Of our performance on onr
INES and our enemies cannot 90
u ~ estimated for we were ono ~
t tn nrst divisions sent from our conn
I,y 70 france to show the world that
can fight. "oiiu mat
i, 1aro battles and long camn.ions
~, peIore us. Only by cease1ess 81,
nance and tireless prenar.-;nr VIZ
80 m II. ourselves for them. uroa
you, therefore, to approach tho e.,
. ',..1 with confidence but above IN
WIN nrm determination that 60 en- gu
20 II is IN your power you will snaaa
,o 80 tnort whether in training or in
S;n SWAT 10 maintain the record of o,,,
VISION and the homer of orr ecu Uui
~. -CharleS T. Menober Mo en-