The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-01-01


can goods and bread. We were in the
cars two nights and three days, and
didn't get chance to wash our faces
and hands. Our mess kits were also
in terrible condition. The first night
| stood up all night, but the second
night it was too much for me SO l
lay down some way, some of us across
one another We couldn't all sit down
at the same time either. | was so
tired the second night / could have
slept anywhere. The most of the time
we were riding very slowly, but we
came across France to The extremely
eastern part. We got off at small
station and hked three miles to
Flongebronch small village where
our company was stationed for about
two months. The company was divid-
ed up and put into eight different bill
lets, which are the French barns, and
is the upper part of their homes, and
the largest part of the house, for the
| lower part is divided up into the
French home, hog pen, cow stables,
chicken house, and all the rest of the
farm houses. The buildings are Old
the most Of them being over century
old. We got along well in the large
barns, for we were under good shell
tcrs, and had the best kind of beds
up IN the hay Of the barn. From
there eighteen of us were sent to
Naldahon Camp to school. Some were
to take up telephone work, some IA
dio work, others largason work, and
still others instrument and oration
work. | was in the last mentioned
with three others. The work is very
interesting, but believe me there is
plenty Of head work in it, We were
over here at the camp two weeks be-
fore the rest of the company came
over. This camp is about twelve kilo-
meters or eight miles from Flongc-
bonch, the village we were at first
The camp is pretty and has very good
convcnicnccs, but is sickly. Many q
poor boy was left behind here in the
large American grave yard, having
died from influenza, pneumonia anC
other diseases. My company stayed
here about month. They had start
=, ed for the front, the day the armis
tce was signed. | heard that they
y guard duty, maybe around Metz.
, was left behind, in the hospital, will
4 nine Of the other boys from my com
l pany with munps. We hated to SCI
y the boys go off and leavc us, but i
we will join them soon. We are al
|. well now, but have to wait for ou
sentence to expire, which is twenty
one days under quarantine. My tim
will be up Tuesday. If it was not 70
my mail | would like to stay her
. longer. | have not heard from yo,
all or the states since the compan,
left. We are having big time il
, the hospital nothing to do but SLEEP
eat and talk to our pretty nurses
o. We have a dandy little nurse who i
i all the time doing something for ou
comfort. She makes the best no
!, cocoa and candies for us. am a
= well as ! ever was now. / was onl
+ sick about three days, but my hea
g looked like Il wash tub for about
~ week.
: While at Flongebonch we were onl
e eight miles from the border of Swift
zerland. There are some large hill
4 around here, being very hilly pan
% of France. On the way here we pass
= ed through several long tunnels, an
# by several rivers and large towns. w
g are now eighteen miles west of Bcsar
"a con, large town. We passed i
about ten miles of Paris also. / woul
like to see Paris before returning t
49, ! the states ana many Olnef place
IL interest. Don't have any idea whc
= our turn will come to go home. Pan
$ Of the hundred and fortieth regimen
H. are now on their way back to tn
States, and they came over the sam
~ month that we came. | do know tha
=. l will not be home for Christina
~ though.
II | hope you have your crop gathered
N and 1,pp will cant ippn to hold uoi
J. cotton.
$ Wishing you all Merry Christina
N and good health. l am well and fee
lc ing fine. Will be coming home sool
,c Love and best wishes for you al
y Your son,
~ Corp. Friendly S. Geddings, Jr.,
I'd Hdq. Co. 317th +. A.
A. E.