The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-01-31
Lost War Trophies
On Way To Hospital
Grandson Of MrS Annie Howell Writes
Some Of His Experiences On Bat
tie FrOnt-Was In Several Charges
With Famous Division

~ "
the 1O6th U. S. Machine Gun Bat
TALON, which saw some hot times a
few weeks before the armistice was
signed. The writer is a nephew of
Hugh Howell. The letter was dated
at Conniere, France, on December
18th. AS the letter says, Private
Miner was put out of commission in
one of the charges and spent his
Thanksgiving in a hospital.
A part of the letter follows:
Now that the censor has let up on
us a bit I'll try to answer some of
your questions.
y Our battalion went over the top
with the first wave of the infantry
only twice. l was with them both
times. We have advanced between
the first and second wave many
times though. OF the two l prefer to
&c right owe the top, because then
our own barrage breaks right ahead
of us, and the enemy does not dare
to shell for fear of hitting his own
men, while behind the first wave the
Boche shells drop like rain.
my friend Hay was with us when
We broke the Hindenburg line but
went to the hospital as soon as we
came out of the line. He has just
rejoined us, having missed the hard
est mart of tho fpbtinp
81 do not know if l ever got a Hun
or not but l do know that they tried
to get me on several different occas-
ions. 1 had a fine helmet for you that
1 took from a dead Hun. 1 got his
pistol, belt, watch, and field glasses
too but l was pretty bad when they
sent me to the hospital and could not
make the fellows understand that l
wanted the things to go with me OF
the stretcher, so they are gone.
81 rejoined the Co. here at Conner
re, a small village near Lemons and
we are so far from the line where the
helmets grow that l doubt very much
if I'll be able to get one However
l will see what l can do. Maybe
someone will sell me one.
"The plans of the division are very
well concealed from us. So far as we
know, we are awaiting transport
alton home. So far we have not been
included in the Army of Occupation,
and I doubt if they will send us. The
division has made a wonderful name
for itself and has born the brunt of
the fighting in every stunt that we
have been in from the taking of KEN
mel Hill to the drive at st. Sauplet.
There are only a few of us left,
that is, of the original 9th that came
from time to time by replacement
troops, and now we are almost at
war strength, but they are mostly
men who were drafted.
Personally l think that we will be
home by the fifteenth of January,
perhaps ooner
TON was very lucky to have his
Thanksgiving at home. l had mine
at the Base Hospital. was very
well taken care of there. The nurses
got together and fixed up a feed for
those of us who were well enough to
partake.
"Your letter containing the Xmas
Money Order was forwarded to the
Base Hospital after l left and is prob
ably now following me all around
France. Probably Aunt Kate's went
with it. l hope they will catch up
with me before we leave, for l will
not draw a pay until next month
when l will get three months all in
a lump. Got a letter from Aunt
Rhoda with a ten dollar Money Or
der in it, two from Helen, n from
Grandma and one from Louise at the
same time yours anne. Louise has
sent a Xmas box but I do not believe
it will get to me before l leave for
home. She sent me the latest pic
lures of her and the baby, and they
are both looking great. The baby
looks so big l can hardly believe he
is mine. She says that he is trying
to walk. ~
81 suppose you wonder where l
have been in the line and I'll give you
some idea. The back areas do not
count, so l will skip that.
early in July we went into Bek
GUM as Reserve Troops. In August
we went in the front line as shock
troops, and advanced, taking KEN
mel Hill and Messine Ridge. Septem-
Der Goth we entered the line on the
right of Ronsay lear Roisel as a
sacrifice division. On the morning of
the 9th we advanced to positions
directly in front of the Hindenburg
lima The enemV resisting stubberQ-