Arizona republican., 1919-01-02

have finished, you might send this to him so he will know also.
 When We left Camp Travis we went to Camp Mills. We were equipped with all articles we were short while there. The trip was a pleasant one by the way of Detroit, Mich, across into Canada then back down into New York. We left there for Hoboken and sailed from there some time in June Landing at Liverpool about the sec ond of July. Paraded there on the fourth. Think, Americans celebrating Independence day in England. We left there the 5th for Southampton, Eng. and sailed the next day for France landing the next morning Oa Havre was the name of the portD We stayed there couple of days then loaded in small box cars, 40 strong for a place called Minot pronounced Minnow). After a few weeks training and re- ceivinS our gas masks, we went to the trenches near little town called Fayen Hay, and about 20 miles south of Metz. We just held that position until September F, 1918. Then is when We first got touch of real war. May be you have read of the battle It was known as the St. Mihiel drive. We made our drive and held our new posi-
 
 or early in October. Not making any l notes of dates they have slipped my mind. We were then taken ont and went over near Thiacourt and relieved on outfit there. These positions were | about F miles south of Metz. Thia- i court q little farther west. We held l that position for about ten days and were relieved; went dack < few miles, | got q bath and some new clothes and a few days rest Then we went up near or rather northwest of Verdun. in l the famous ArSonne forests. There is | where we remained fighting most every i day until l got sick with what the | doctor called lungitis or bronchitis That was November 3, 1918. I was sent to a field hospital and from there here. U. $. Base hospital 216.
 This place is about the sixth or sev- enth largest town in France and is near the ocean. It is a port. I am feeling all right and want to either gC back to my outfit or go home but can't get out of here until they get , ready to let me go. 1 don't think there was anything much wrong. In fact think it was just slight case of mus tard gas. In the ArSonne the Ger mans shot quite q lot of it. It did not make sores on me like it did some oi the boys, just affected my voice { little
 The week I sent you the Christmas ! permit had two very narrow escapes One evening while laying in a trencf With an infantry company, a shell eX- ploded near by and when l raised up q poor fellow was laying in my laI dead. The next morning I discovered l had a big hole in my pack whici was on my back and one in my mes: kit. The schrapnel could not penetrate the two tightly rolled blankets an( shelter half. That one shell wounded five other men whom I gave first ai( to. About a week later the German: were smelling d patch about 15 fee from where my partner and l had ou hole. My partner and I layed in ou hole for protection. We were Iayinl close together as the hole was just bi; enough for two men to lay in ant about two and half feet deep. I tol, him the shells were travelling aWfLl' low. He said I believe they are and h.
 hardly got through speaking when shell exploded and we were covere' with dirt I called him and asked hin
 if he was all right and he replied
 Let's get out of here. So I jumped ou
 and into the next hole about eight 0
 ten feet away. Two boys in there toll
 me they were wounded. So we al 1 went down in a big sunken place il the ground and all three were wounded One in the eye and forehead, one in tn wrist and my partner in the right sid of his chest I dressed all and sen
 them to the hospital.
 l Well there were times it was impos sible to write and then times when yo would write you would have to carr
 them several days before you could ge them mailed. Well things are differ | ent now and hope to see you all soor