The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-02-21


this is not the case.
W. are having some fine weather
for this time Of year. | presume ii
Is about 40 below zero with you peo.
pie, well, anyway, | wish was there
! ike the cold weather better than
rain. 1t is warm here, but rains al
most every day, and the sun seldom
shines. The rain don't bother us
now like it did when we were in the
trenches and dug g-outS at the front.
1t rained almost all the time when
we were there and no chance To get
out Of it, but there was no grumDling
done, for all felt we were doing or
duty by being there.
Well, guess | can now tell you
some Of the places was at the front,
don't think it makes any difference
now. The first place was Chateau
| Thierry. Next was st. Mihiel. From
there to what now is called Dead
! Mans Hill" That was surely some
! place. We went from there to the
| Argonne Wo ds and believe nee, that
was some death trap" butwe came
out pretty good, even though some Of
our boys were bumped off. We
also were on the Meuse River. will
not try to tell YOU all | saw at these
places, but will wait until ] come
home, although am afraid that will
not be until sometime in the summer,
but the Lord knows | an praying
hard enough TO get home sooner, for
| am sure tired OF this life,-that is
being with people you can't talk to.
Were with the French seven or eight
months, then came to Germany,
which is worse than ever. | will be
afraid to say anything when | get
home for | kuOw you will all laugh
the way we try to talk, but we have
to try to do something. | have only
spoken to two women since | came
over here who could talk English.
the one who wrote to you, mother,
and the other nurse at the hospital.
Believe me, it sure seemed good to
talk to woman who could talk Eng
lish.
We are now living with the Ger
man people. Are only at the house
at night. From two to ten in house
There are seven here with me, three
horseshoe RS. two mechanics and a
saddler, We have good time to.
sether, all being special duty men.
Don't know whether | ever told
you what / now do. Well / am ac,-
ing vetinary or "horse doctor" You
know always liked that at home
and am makeing good at it here,
Have had this job since last February
and have never had any kick on my
work yet, and have not missed much
time, except about two weeks IN
blacksmith shop. One Of the smitl 5
got machine gun bullet, and they
had to have someone take his place,
which did until we were caught UP
with the work He is still in tie
hospital, but | hope to see him soon,
His name is Tucker, but no relation,
but is some good fellow.
We are all from different states.
There are only six in this Battery
from South Dakota. There was sey
en- of IS, but one is dead He was
from Pine Ridge.
Have not seen John Cash for about
one month. He was all o. k. last time
saw him, but he is now i'm differ
ent town. Only one Battery is in
town, SO you see our regiment is scat
tered out quite bit.
Well Sis, how is that big boy? Sup
pose lie is out helping milk now, o.
at least bringing in the COWS, DO you
want To lease my land again this
year, VIII? Well, ! suppose yo', 'peo-
pie are tired reading by this time so
will "ring Off" Had a letter from
Chris Norgard not long ago. He is
In South Carolina.
Population of Bungard, 10 houses,
dogs, 2 chickens, | OK team and !
crippled horse.
Hoping all is well with all Of you,
wishing you Happy and Prosperous
year, | am, as ever, your son and brc-
ther, MACK VAUGTEN,
Battery r l6 T. 4 via NpwsNor