The Farmington times., 1919-03-21

the snow and mud and lined up and
awaited orders to go. About II
o'clock we took the train and headed
eastward. We had quite little train
ride and were well guarded, but we
enjoyed the trip at that. We went
| through some nice towns and cities
and the people at these places treat
ed US to candies, cakes and apples, and
other fruits. But we got tired before
we reached our stopping place. 1t
took US three days and nights to make
the trip. When we got off the train
we went up to the camp, which was
called Rest Camp, but called it
quarantine camp, for we were under
quarantine most all the time while
there. / did manage to get a "a
hour pass, and in addition was taken
a few 25-mile hikes. There are GER
tainly some nice scenery in N. j. We
were in camp about month, and one
night about bed time we got orders to
pack up our junk and get ready to
leave. About A o'clock in the morn
ing we took the train over to the
decks in N. Y. There we were load
ed on the ship, and about 2:30 p. m.
we set sail. We went to Halifax,
Canada, which was a 2-rays trip.
There we got our convoy and set sail
for Europe. We We're on the ocean
almost Is 1-2 days. Believe me,
got tired Of seeing nothing but water
but we had some drill and amuse-
ments that kept us from worrying.
About three days before we reached
shore we were greeted by about 10
destroyers. The next day just before
dark we were attacked by subma-
rine. But those little destroyers be-
gan their active work, dropping the
depth bombs in after them. There
was some noise there for awhile, so
began to think that / was in war, and
was, too, but they didn't get to fire
a shot at our ship. About nightfall
the amusement" stopped. Some said
there were four "subs" and that three
were sunk. But anyway, it changed
our course and made US two days later
getting there. We sailed up the
Thames river. / have read of the
Thames river being beautiful, and
sure enough it was. 1t is not a wide
river but it must be pretty deep for
a large ship like we were on to sail
on. The ship looked as large as the
river. We sailed up as far as East Lon
don and landed and took the train to
South Hampton and American rest
camps. We had about four hours
ride on an English train. The train
was somewhat smaller than our
American trains. We saw English wo-
men dressed as men and doing the
work of men while the men were
away fighting. Then | began to wake
up to the fact that was in a strange
country. Yet the people used the
same language as we. However, it is
hard to understand an Englishman,
unless you listen very closely, for he
speaks real fast. We were in Eng
land two days, then took ship and
sailed for France. We got to France
the next day. There we saw the
French people and heard a. peculiar
language like "Bonpour Day." "Bon
Bons", etc. We were put into~a lit
tie English and American rest camp
in small tents, about 1-2 feet in di-
ameter, and 16 men in one of these.
You can imagine our rest. But we
managed to make out by some of us
staying up late while the others slept
We made out prettye good there
for about two days and then we took
train and went to Blois, France, and
remained there four days. We got
some drill there with rifles and some
gas drill. We went through the gas
chamber and there was where | was
separated from my old companions
and it was certainly lonesome when
l left them. Anyway l had plenty of
company. / was sent from Blois to
the field hospital, near Chatte, and
there began my career of actual duty
for Uncle Sam. At first we didn't
see very many patients, but the next
day we received something like S2E
patients, most all gassed. Maybe you
think we didn't have our hands full
Most of those fellows were Marines
and most of them were gassed with
mustard gas That IS Il bad gas. 4
goes thro Ig'l the clothing and burns
1t was a big ioo bat / was glad to dc
all | could to relieve those fellows OF
: their pains and give them comfort.
! was Immediately assigned work or
i night-shift steady. About the second
morning | was there We Were lineC
up for chow. All of a sudden a buz-
: zing noise was heard overhead, and
= my, but the line did diminish rapidly
l, not knowing exactly the danger
:. stayed out in line. A few minutes
! later over came another big shell
:. which hit building near by. | ther
! hunted hole, but | got my chow be.
:, fore left and went into the cellar tc
= eat it. That was my first exposure tc
. shell fire. We were there nearly
weeks and then we moved back fol
rest. Then | was transferred to Am
bulance Co. Is and have been with this
company until now. About three days
p after l was assigned to the company
| got the fever and chills and went tt
= the hospital and was there for about
p week and then was well, so was
+ sent from there to Replacement
E Camp, and there | was assigned to m.
4 company. Then | was sent out will
: some dough boys and Marines not m!
:, same DIV. back to our outfits. So W,
rode on the train about a week be
O fore we found our outfits and we SUR
" saw quite a lot of graves on oul
trip. But we found our division 10
Gated around near Marcy, France. 81
B found my company in nearby tow