Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-02-06
Letter from Frank Burke


Letter from Frank Burke
99s Hohr, Germany
Dec. 20, 1913.
Ny dear Mother:
Don't be surprised in getting two
letters from me in such quick sue
cession, but we received q G. o. to-
night which said we could write
about many things which were here
tofore prohibited.
To begin with am going to tell
you Of my trip to and through Ger
many, up to my present location.
We were at Sedan, and just about
to enter the city when the orders came
to cease firing at 1855, Nov. IL.
This was sort Of disappointment to
US because there were many Germans
there who were ready to run the min
ute we laid the barrage and started
in. That is the way we had to fight
them for almost 40 kilometers and we
had hard time keeping up with them
all the way. Well we We're relieved
that night and started on hike thru
the rain and mud for the rear. We
laid over in a woods for two days
and orders came to prepare for the
march to Germany.
We began there and marched to
Verdun, crossed the old No Mans
Land Of the beginning Of the war. 7
had often heard that the country
about that sector was terribly cut up
and the scenes would cause shivers to
run up mans back. Some 8. y. S.
guy must have seen it and told of
it being in that condition for have
been in places where the shells were
falling thick and fast that were torn
up so bad that, it made Verdun look
like play ground.
This division was the advance guard
of the American occupation troops,
so we were the first to enter the
French towns which were heed from
the Germans. We were mes by these
dear people, who had undergone the
hard sufferings Of war for years.
With cheers they greeted us, the
women were hysterical at times, the
children flocked around us and Of
fered to carry our guns for us. IN
some towns we were met BY little
parades Of women and children, carry
ing their French flags, which they
had kept hidden away for so long. At
times the scenes were so pathetic
that I could not keep back the Gears.
I could plainly see that our efforts
were not in vain and was repaid for
all have done, by the manner in
which these little people received us.
! At towns at which we stayed for the
/, night, they insisted that we take the
best rooms in the house. At the first
one of these towns where we stayed, |
was given a fine little room. When |
went into it, it was cold and not very
comfortable. I went to look after the
billetlng of the rest of the men and
when l came back there vas a good
fire in the stove, the big feather bed
was remade, nice cover placed OIL
the center table, my overcoat and
! equipment was arranged neatly. l
became homesick right away and
tried twice to write letter to you.
| A few minutes later the little French
| woman came to the door and asked
how / liked it. told her, the best 1
| could in her language, and ratified
off bunch Of English which, of
course, she could not understand. She
then asked how long W. were gong
to stay. J! told her two days. That
was not long enough, she said the
people wanted to keep US there. The
Germans had Just left the cay before
and had told then. that the damned
Americans were coming right behind
them. We were anG had been step
ping on their heels for some time
Well we marched on after couple
Of days rest and several days late,
entered Luxembourg and finally stop
ped at Grevenonacher for week
We put on a big parade there and. the
/ people gave us grand welcome. On
Dec. LIST we crossed the Noselle river
into Germany The attitude of the
people had changed a great deal by
this time but still we were received
by an adniring audience in all tn,
villages. We marched up the Mosellt
river for many miles. The scenery was
wonderful but the marching was hard
for one, could not enjoy the beauty
Of it to the full extent. 1t would have
been great if fellow had Henry
to ride in.
/ We went through the beautiful city
of Cochem and camped a short ways
up the river. Our next big camp wa.
lin the city of Coblenz, where tn,
Moselle enters the Rhine. We stayed
there one day and crossed the Rhin,
at 9:15 the next morning, Dec. 18th
J, We are now located about 1s kilo
! meters from Coblenz, at Hohr, ;