The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-12-26
A YEAR AGO
in u. S. SERVICE
Where Some of the
Boys Were Last
Christmas
ON LAND AND SEA
By Fremont Kutnewsky

1uS HOluc ulcS IulS year Will Uc
for many a returned wand
erer to whom his first Christmas
with home folks will be a heart
soothing event. COntrasted with
last Christmas quite some refined
sentiments of satisfaction will rise
in the family circle, and strange it
will be if several million funny
anecdotes are not told in the safe
distance of "Reminiscences concerning
happenings that were not always
actually what they sound like now.
Thinking it would be interesting to
take little census and find out
where the boys were a year ago this
Christmas l asked some of them and
secured the following results:
Frank Davis was at Brugges on
leave from his outfit, the 362 in
fantry with some comrades. They
spent the day exploring that historic
old city which for four years stood
on the borderline and suffered thru
the great conflict. They went up in
the famous tower, 1--WE forget the
forgettable name Of it, in which is
one Of the most famous sets of
chimes in the world. The tower is
$50 feet high and gives an outlook
over the city. Just as they were
mounting, at 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, these wonderful chimes
sounded off" for the first time since
the wars thundercloud descended
upon the unhappy townsfolk in
1914. Looking out the boys saw
from every shack, mansion and
abode come forth the people. They
crowded the streets, and in their
expressful European way, celebrated
the new peace by weeping as the
beautiful chimes rung out.
Everett FaulcOner, member of
marine detachment, at Caviti, Philip
pine Islands, enjoyed big army feed
and outdoor sports. It was warm
day.
George M. Jorgensen Jr., and Carl
Estenson Of the 316 field signal bat
talon, happened to be packing up to
go they knew not where, but feared
it was the army of occupation and
another years absence from home.
They were at town about fifteen
kilometers from Dunkirk, in Bel
GUM.
Walter H. Young and half dozen
friends of, headquarters detachment,
91st division, celebrated the day at
Roosebrouge, Belgium, with a feast
for which they secured the country
side and secured a French cook.
Walt says, with a fond smile, it was
"some feed"
Reiff Christ, with the first pursuit
group at COLOMBIA la Belle, which
was part of the Argonne battle
ground between Verdun and Bar le
Duc. Reiff says there wasn't much
to the town except ruins and the in
habitants were only, just coming
back from exile to rebuild. But they
had pretty good Christmas dinner,
at the barracks, and many parties
on the side, at those inviting French
inns, in the country roundabout.
w. B. GoOdnOugh, member Of the
crew of the West Elcasco, ninety
day" U. s. merchant vessel, arrived
in the port of Gibraltar on Christ
mas day. All hands expected mail.
They had been a long time without.
Goodnough carried the mail bag as
the first boat lowered and pulled for
shore. But there was no mail.
They had taken with them large
supply of ship candy, Hershey bars
Of chocolate, and every little Spanish
urchin they met they piled with the
strange sweets, and to see the little
folks eat was.a Joy forever. Good
nough had also a common American
doll, just loose jointed china doll,
which the chief engineer had given
him to give away. He gave it to a
little Spanish lady just old enough
to 60 into tantrums over it.
IT never saw more pitiful sight,"
said Goodnough, telling. Of it the
other day. "That little girl almost
went crazy over the doll. She
laughed and she cried, and fairly
had Mysteries of delight. had
seven hardened sailors with me, and
it's the truth I tell that not a man
of them had dry eye. Well, we