Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-02-06
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS


WRITES FToHl oSl9I0Hl'
My. and MIS- Walter l. Johnson Of
Griswold have received the following
letters from their son, Corporal Ray
mond B. Johnson. company clerk in
the 107th Field Artillery;
Proven, Belgium, Dec. &c. 1918.
My Dear Folks: Well. Christmas is
over and New Years will soon be here.
l suppose we will go to sCr4e camp in
France, and how long Wa will be there
before going home is uncertain. E,v-
eryone wonders when We will go home,
but TO one knows definitely. The opin-
ion is that we will be home soon. I sim
cerely hope so. for have had enough
Of Belgium, France and Europe in
general. What I want now IS to see
the Statue Of Liberty, and ;he sooner
the better satisfied I VIII be.
How good it will seerl 90 be home
with you all, and to have on civilian
clothes again, and to be able 20 do eX-
actly as I feel like doing. ant, go where
please. It will seem good to cat al a
table like civilians do, instead of using
a mess kit. and to wear civilian cloth
ing and have my neclltics and every
thing. Just think, I have hecn in the
A. z. T. ovc. six months Nearly all
Of us are wearing a gold cnevron on
our left cuff now, denoting six months
service over here. Hope : don't get
another one. Several day.; ago I saw d
fellow with three. That meant d year
and a. half for him over here.
Proven. Belgium, Dec 20 1918
Dear Mother: We eXpec. to leave
! here in q very few days Cor our camp
| in France. Have an idea where the
| camp is located. but haven't heard
what kind of d place it is. But we
aren't at all fussy now. Have lived in
| about every sort of a place since we
! left orr training camp. 7 sure hope
! that We viii only be at Tie camp a
! short time before we are ordered over
/ seas. It is strange how fate seems to
! govern everything. Two years ago if
/ any che had told me what was going
| to happen. | would have thought it
| absurd. I have seen France and Bel
] GUM and the damage created by war
! I have seen enough, and now l want to
| get back home. Just before we left our
F! training camp the German drive had
been stopped at Chauteau Theierry
and they were being driven back to-
/ ward the Eesle river. We went
| through Chateau Theierry Just after
the Germans lad been driven back, and
that was the first place from where We
could see thu flashes of the guns and
hear their report. That city had al
been Zhot UP and the railhead is just
beyond. From the raiihead to the
lines, and ammunition dumps between
the railhcad and the lines, the roads
used to be filled with s5rcat Pierce
Arrow TRUCKS nights. During thu
night they could be heard al all times
rushing up supplies. The first nigh
we landed up toward the lines at VIVA
was made CTR rear echelon German
planes came over and bombed a fielt
hospital We could see it very plainly
for the hospital was in plain view
across valley from Whern we were
During the day German planes coult
be seen trying to get through the lines
and the TenCrts and Duffs of smoke
could be seen in the air from the aeria
| barra%e. Pm sure glad it is over Tvt
| been in the field hospital at night whel
the men gassCd would be brought in
Mother it is terrible, ana : hardly be.
lieve the folks at home aan really un
derstand the meaning of war. Of cours'
l know it caused many slcepless night
and great sorrow. but the idea one ha!
| Of actual warfare is much differen
than the real thing.
My experience on the font is yerr
limited. for never was or The actua
front but several times. and thel
where the artillery was ,0C>.te o
course we were at what is '-novrn n
But many NIGHTS I have wished con1,
be right with the companv | used f.
lay out in a field in the grass for hoDr
listening to the firing and watchir,
, the rockets End flashes. When W
moved into Belgium l made UP m
mind | was going to stay right wit
1.-THE comranv. fald desk and ali bu
orders came for me To nar,x nm and -
back. II used 10 he too 1oneso mo ; ,
suit mo hack in tbe roar aoboIor ~ ,
l besides wanted +o staV 1Tf+b nc ~, ~
. iorftv R1It Il is over ana tLe-a Sc lli q
IUse in wrifin~ about If T5nsidos - ~ :,
mind j. tao -9cunied with 1boI1g11ts IL =
E. l7or7e - -