Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-05-26
MRS. RI. HURD OF VIII.
L|AMS GETS LETTER
News From son Over
There in Reply to Letter
To Gen. Pershing.

- gI7l
received letter from, Captain vercy A
Leadbitter. who is captain of the com.
pany. that her son Howard is in--the
9TH Y. s. Infantry Supply Company
The letter is in answer to one that Mrs
Hurd wrote to Gen. Pershing. 1t fol
lows:
My dear Mrs. Hurd: T have just
read your letter to General Pershing,
and wish to answer and, if possible, re-
lieve your anxiety as far as POSSIBLY
can. I can understand how You feei
after twenty-six years in a wheel chair.
My wife's mother was an invalid for
years, yet she gave boy who made the
supreme sacrifice for his country. This
was a blow from which she never re-
covered and so can appreciate your
anxiety.
| Just before your son joined the COM
pany, the great. German horde started
their final march to Paris and this sup
ply company lost nearly all its men and
217 horses July ID, 1918, at Chateau
Thierry). Due to this loss, the rest
of the regiment, through hunger and
lack Of supplies, was in horrible CON
dition until your son and n hundred 9th
ers (including 1.-THE writer) replaced
those who died so nobly and have
since had the honor to be cOmplimented
by Gen. Pershing for its excellence.
Gen. Sladden,~ addressing the men.
stated :FsYour work here lin Germany
has been of the highest order and per-
sonally know that it was of the grea t
lest excellence in the great battles
through which we have just emerged
This regiment had twenty-nine days
|of fighting in the Argonne, and Of this
period no combat company had over
fourteen days actually in the fighting
lime. was not at that time It's com
mander, and had an opportunity to
hear complaints, but I never heard one,
and today believe this, to be the most
Important organization in the regi-
|ment.
A wagner in trench warfare mas a
certain place to deliver his load, bit in
open warfare nothing can be more no
BILE or valiant than the act Of WAGNER
McCready Of this company, WHO drove
Ibis team in broad daylight up 70 the
line. Also Wagner Weibel, who drove
la water cart into the front line trench
les.
These men are not lauded in literary
lcircles, but sitting on the seat of n
wagon confined to a road which the
lenemy knew to the fraction of a yard,
| is great feat, especially when the bar
Irage comes down.
] will conclude this letter by tell
| ing you that-you can proudly tell any
one interested that your son has been
in the greatest battles of the war with
honor, and field train is never at any
| time in this army outside of fire. Ours
was the last organization under fire
In this regiment.
| Hoping this message will console you
in part. / am sincerely,
Your sons friend.
Vercy A. Leadbitter,
Captain It'll Infantry, Supply Officer.
Z
Randall Briefs.
Mrs. Ed NJ. Erickson left Wednesday
for brief stay with relatives at Ida
Grove
Miss Carrie Olson left Friday for
Rose Grove, where she will visit a sis
ter.
Mrs. A. II. Henderson, Mrs. Julius
Ingebritson and Miss Lorrende Hend-
es.s3n arrived home "Wednesday from a
few days visit in Des Moines.
Miss Maggie Rando was a Story City
! caller Wednesday between trains.
Mrs. Erickson and two children de-
parted for their home near Jackson,
Mimi, Friday, having spent the past
| week with relatives here.
J. o. H. Johnson OF Jewell was a
local caller Saturday.
| Mrs. Ommdson of Jewell spent Fri
day at the home Of her daughter, Mrs.
]. G. Peterson and family.
Mr.. and Mrs. Elling Rognehowe OF
Story City visited at the Q. ii. Hender-
son home Friday.
John Peterson and son Homer and
| w. s. Hoon left for Ames Friday morn
| ing to enter the big trap shooting tour.
nament. Trap shooters from all over
the state were in attendance and
4 some excellent scores were made. Fred
| Gilbert and John Jean We're high guns
tying with score of las out of possible
100. w. S. Hoon was second with IA;
John Peterson, 143; Homer Peterson
j l42: A. X. Stenerson, no; II. 5
i Maland. 1879; doc" Abramson. 139
IL. A. Johnson, 1876; Louis Jacobson
135: Otto Fent0n, 120.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thos. Il. Peterson, MI
Il and Mrs. +. tG. Peterson and family
Il. q. Peterson, Julia, Rachel and Alnl'