The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-05-01
Bossier Boy Gets Cross.

Following is letter received re-
Gently by Mrs. W. I. Keith. of near
Linton. from her son. Corpl. James L.
Keith, who saw u great deal OF night
ing in France. and who announces III
his letter that he has been decorated
with the c,Oir dc guerrc, or French
war cross:
Wcitcrsburs Germany. April i. 1919.
Dear Mother: Have received the
cony of the Bossier Banner and the
magazines YOU sent me. Thank YOU
very much and must say that the Ban
ner is sure some treat. 1t almost made
me homesick. even if it was an old
copy.
We are getting along fine here i'll
Hm-land. We are uuartered in the
civilians homes. hotels. etc. We are
situated on Il hill overlooking the
| Rhine River, with Fort EbelghStein
| and the city Of COblence in the dis
| lance.
Was interested in letters printed Ill
| the Banner. from some Of the boys
ever here. and their being SO proud OF
their division. Now. it is UP to NE,
7 suppose. to speak for my division.
and perhaps ! and my friends Will
have some very interesting arguments
when | return home. But | must say
we men of the Second Division believe
| il TO he the hest division in France.
Germany. or east of all America. ana.
according to citations, the number or
kilometers advanced on the front line.
the number of killed and wounded. the
number Of prisoners. guns. etc. we cap
tured is more than any other division
The Second Division captured 12.O2f
prisoners tower one fourth of the prlS
cnerS taken by the American Expedl
/ tionary ForceSl. :'43 cannon ana hu
;ncrous machine guns % ne-fOurth OF
the guns captured from the Germans
by the Americans. Our casualties were
10 per cent of the losses by the Ameri
can Revolutionary Forces. We Wer
; in the battles Of Chateau Thierry. fort.
DAYS: scissors. six days: were In Il
roint-a- MouSSou. forty days: st. Mi
iiei. five days: Blanc Mount Ridge. o
T. CEam|,a .ne. ten days. and were i'll tn
y trenches forty days near Nerdun dul
e ing March and April of 1918. This
d the record Of the division that we az
n so Freud Of There are thirty cOmba
% divisions. We defy any one to prov
what have said untrue and to sio
a record that good. Expect you wi
= think l am an awful " braggart. NJ
that yea will doubt my word, but hi
:, tory will prove that have spoken Il
=, truth.
And ROW | have some good news II
- YOU. Am proud to say that l have bee
" decorated with the c,Uir dc gHcirc.
IS French war cross for my conduct dll
ing the LATHE of Chamlagne-for til
he ing command of Il section and leadll
ill it on iii battle after my lieutenant W
d killed was decorated on March 10
sc i,y Mai Gen Lejunne. commanding t
"a second vision.
ell We were reviewed some time y;
It'll by Cen. PerShing. He compliment
Use us very highly on our part in the W;
ed our discipline. etc. You can lnlagi
how leased we We're. He diSmount
from his horse and climied to the
Of haystack to address us He $;
@ it was leyond his widest dreams
ever address American troops from
hayStaci; in Germany. The men 81
.,' cheered him.
Can't say when | will he home.
-, deIeHdS Oh the peace conference. 4
if there is 10 I've no army of Occupat
we expect t. start for home as soon
the peace treaty is signed. Otherw
ma | can't say when.
I'D Hare made my letter quite long
- will now close. with love and |
nal, wishes to all. From son
rub corpl. James Il. Keith.
at Company r, 18th Nj. q. Btu.
md Am r. r. Am T. O. 10