New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-02-06

geant George Beckett of CO. l. lost
his left hand I believe that he is
with you people now. Corporal
William Turner was also wounded on
the same date. We then stayed in
this sector playing with sly old
Fritze until we were relieved and we
then went directly up into the Chateau
Thierry drive. We relieved the 5th
and 9Th Marines In he Belleau Woods
and started the drive out from there
July IS. The 10Th co. 3 from Con-
necticut had a number of gas casuals
and received q replacement Of 1877
new lads that landed here July 4. I
was at this time put in Co. B and
as they had but few non-commis-
stoned officers, Captain Goodman
put me in charge of the third de
tachment that had Just arrived and
We went over the morning OF the %
at $40 o'clock. We took the town Of
Fpriads and advanced through live
wheat fields toward a wooded ridge,
where the Boches had a nest of
machine guns playing on us. They
cleaned our lines out to seven men,
the rest were wounded or killed. This
is the place where I received my
first wounds. The cause of our de-
feat here was that we had no artillery
support and if we had had artillery
support I might have a different
story to tell.
From here 7 went to Base hospital
No. 116 and later [ was transferred
tC Base No. 3 at Mountpoint, about
an hours ride from Bordeaux. For
a month 7 didn't hear of Orville, who
went over on the same nest that
afternoon. Well our boys were re-
lieved by he AZ division on the Is
of July. The boys spe ii ten days out
Of the trenches and then they went
into the st. Mihiel drive. I got re
leased fror The hospital and got back
just in time. We went over Sept.
- We made our final objective in
Of hours helping tc regain l so square
miles for France. 1t was entering
Vige Nelles when we captured q bat
TALON of machine gunners. guns,
w2 CONS and all that 7 finally realized
just what we were fighting for. In
fact we were lighting for those poor
innocent French men, women and
children, that we restored to a world
Of freedom and Joy once more. One
old lady had to kiss every one in my
platoon. A sight that would stir any
ones heart to realization. Afterward
we were sent into this sector, it was
here that I took the battalion scouts
down in front. 1t was hell-hold
down there. That was the day after
American first Bats pulled off that
fake attack on March Willie This
had to be done so as the bows at the
VAFHnn Fn ~.
chance to start fighting again. We
returned with our company SIS per
cent. casuals that morning. General
Edwards, who was in command of this
sector cried like a child because so
many of the boys had to be sacrificed
He is the best general that the L. s.
ever had over here and every boy
thinks a lot of him, believe me-
was gassed down in the town of
Saules while I was going out to call
in my observation post. A couple Of
gas shells had broken out just before
| came out of my dugout. Tt was
dark and foggy and not knowing
where the shells broke. walked
through the little cloud of gas be-
fore | realized it. Two breaths of
it got me- After we were relieved
by the 18th division, I went to the
hospital and our boys went up into
the Verdun sector The day the
fighting stopped (Thank God) my
company went over the top three
times and was ready to go over again
with a handful of men with Orville
to cease fighting.