Putnam County herald. (Cookeville, Tenn.) 1903-1922, 1919-02-06
SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE

\ SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE
Dear Editor:I have been in
France some few months now and
this is my first attempt to write tc
the Herald. Hope you will be kind
enough to allow me just little
space in your good little paper 1t
is raining this afternoon and we
can't get out to do squads left, anu
squads right. and squads left front
into line. We are having some aw
full rainy weather over here in
France. but it isn't very cold here.
We haven't had any snow yet
We A. E. F. boys are getting very
anxious TO come back home, now as
we have done what we came over
here to do. We did just what Uncle
Sam sent us to do, and what he
thought We would do. So we are
hoping that day will be in the near
future, when We will have the pleas
ure of marching down to some pert
and hear them say, fright by file"
as we load on to some transport
bound for good old America That
certainly will be a great day with us
boys who have been wading mud
and riding in box cars, otherwise
known as stock cars, so long trying
to get the Kaiser We boys have
got some souvenirs from the front
where the Germans had left them
German helmets, bayonets, rifles,
pistols and so forth
l will give my Division here, as
someone might wonder what Divis
ion I'm insist. Division. otherwise
known as the Wildcat Division. II
was stationed at Camp Jackson, S
c., ten months and then was sent
to France. We left the U. S. A. on
Aug. 5, 1918. The ship which we
sailed on was the Acquitania, which
Is one among the largest ships il
the world. We were seven days en-
the deep seas. Left New York tho
5th, and landed in Liverpool, Eng
land the 18th. Stayed in England
FIVE days and then came across the
English Channel to France which
took one night. The German sub
marines were in there thick as
blackbirds in wheatfield, but II
was just our own good luck to get
across safe and sound. We landed
at Cherbourg, France, after leaving
England Stayed there two day3 |
and then got on the train, or those
box cars | was speaking about, and |
rode three days. SO when we got TO
our journeys end we were near
Switzerland, where it was very ho; |
and dry. So we were very glad in
deed, to get to a warm climate, as it
was very cold while we were in Eng
land and Northern France. We are
now at Saint Blm, France. This is
a great mountain country; lots of
wild deer here in these mountains.
I've been out hunting few times for
the last two weeks. ! Like to hunt
very much.
The people here are just gettins
through threshing wheat. went
down and watched them thresh some
oats this morning. Their threshers
are about the size of one of our
pea hullers.
Wade Sheriff. of Double Springs,
heard you had been discharged
from the service and are back home
again. I'm sorry you didn't get to
come over and help us get the
Kaiser. OF course you did your Bit.
You was in the service ready to
come if We hadn't got him when we
lid l guess those boys who did
70 much to keep from going to camp
eel kindly funny for their last
chance they'll nevermore forget and
ife will hold for them one sad re-
,ret, They've missed both victory
ind aftergiow. They sorrow longest
Who did not want to put on the
Ihaki when they heard their coun
rys call. I'm glad can say I've
,een true soldier for Uncle Sam.
Since heard my country's call ]
lever did anything to keep from So
ng to camp, nor coming to France. .
Love to the ones at home, and al
o to the many friends in and
round Cookeville.
PVT. JOHN v. WEBB.
BAIT. C 316th H. r. A.