Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-02-13
BEN TWIST WRITES HOME

Miller last Thursday.
--O-
BEN TWIST WRITES HOME
| Dear Loving Mother:-I will drop
you line to let you know l am we'll
and hope this finds you all the same.
We have Just got moved to another
town and it rained on US all the
way. l do not know how long we
will be here. 1t is getting bad
weather here and is getting colder.
suppose it is getting cold in the U.
s. now. How is father standing the
cold weather this winter and how are
they getting along with the work?
When does Will think he will be
home? sure would like to get
home for spring work. / think it
will be a month or two before we
start for the States il everything
goes good We are on outpost duty
now, but don't know how long that
will last, but suppose it will be a
couple of weeks and then l don't
know where we will go. Did Rob-
erts' folks come down for Christmas
this year? How is Nellie and all the
little kids? / sure would like to
see them. Did you get all the corn
picked before bad weather and how
much did you have. l had let
ter from Mr.. Neary. He said 1t
was great weather for picking corn
when he wrote. l got my Christ
mas box all right and everything
was just fine and the candy sure
tasted good. / would have liked to
have been home for Christmas but
am glad | was able to eat Christmas
dinner here. We crossed the Rhine
the 18th of this month. 1t sure
seemed strange when we could not
hear a gun after eleven O'Clock Shat
day but they fired up to the last
minute. We could not believe that
I the war was over. but / guess it is
true. Thare was one boy from
around home and myself that were
left back in Coblenz that did not
get to come across with our COM
pany. but We are somewhere in Ger
many now, as the old song we used
to sing just before We went in bat
! tie. We are in Selnschahon now
/ but do not know how long we will be
here, but don't worry, mother, for
there is some chance of my coming
/ home now. II you have no fruit
cakes baked up you had better get
| busy for when I get home | want all
can eat of them. Tell father to
hold the old farm down till we boys
get home. 1t sure was too bad
/ about Arthur Ballou. but l am glad
was not with him for it was bad
enough to see others fall but when it
comes to seeing your best friend IL
is awful. Tell father I was, in 1t
when they took Sedan and four more
hard battles Many time I would
not have given two cents for my life
but the good Lord was with me and
brought me through and I am glad
of that. I am sending you slip
of paper telling about one battle we
were in. 1t was the worst hattie
we ever fought. Well. mother will
close for this time Tell father to
take good care of himself till get
there. Will close. with love to all.
Your loving son.
BEN TWIST.
GENERAL ORDERS NO. cot.
France, Nov. 10, 1918.
! /. The Commander in Chief de-
sires to make record in the General
/ Orders of the American Expedition
airy Forces his extreme satisfaction
with the conduct of the officers and
soldiers of the First Division in its
advance west of the Mouse between
| October 4th and 18th, 1918. Dur
ing this period the division gained
distance of seven kilometers over
country which presented not only re-
markable facilities for enemy defense
but also great difficulties of terrain
for the operation of our troops.
2. The division met with resist
ance from elements of eight hostile
divisions, most of which were first
class troops and some of which were
completely rested. The enemy chose
to defend its position to the death,
and the fighting was always of the
most desperate kind. Throughout
the operations the officers and men
of the division displayed the highest
type of courage. fortitude and self
sacrificing devotion to duty. In adj
dition to many enemy killed. the di-
vision captured one thousand. four
hundred and seven of the enemy.
thirteen nm. field guns, ten trench
mortars and numerous machine guns
and stores.
8. The success of the division In
driving a deep advance into the en-
emy's territory enabled an assault to
be made on the left by the neighbor-
ing division against the northeastern
portion of the Forest of Argonne. and
enabled the First Division to advance
to the right and outfank the enemy's
position In front of the Division on
that flank.
4. The Commander in Chief has
noted in this division a special pride
OF service and high state OF morale.
never broken by hardship nor battle.
g. This order will be read to all
organizations at the first assembly
formation after Its receipt. (14790-
A-306.)
BY command of General Pershing:
JAMES w. McANDREW.
Chief OF Staff.
OfYicial. RORERT e. DAVIS