Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1919-01-23
Wardell Mcdonald writea Interesting
Letter.

Mr.. and Mrs. Charles B. Mcdonald,
of this place, have received several
very interesting letters from their son,
Wardell Mcdonald, who writes from
Base Hospital No. sc, in France. We
publish them herewith in part as fol-
lows:
December 2, 1918.
Dearest Mother-Now that the cen
sorship has been lifted to certain ex-
tent, will try to tell you what | can
remember OF my experiences from the
time left Camp Lee.
1t was August 2lst at z p. m. when
We left Camp Lee for City Point, Vir-
ginia, distance of seven miles. OF
course We thought il was awful that
We had to walk seven miles-but now
it is different We arrived at City
Point about 10 o'clock, and the Red
Cross had hot coffee waiting for us, and
as it happened it was Jefferson coun-
ty girl that was passing around the
coffee-MisS Margaret Shugart, of
Harper's Ferry. At / o'clock we
walked up the gang-plank and got
aboard small ship which conveyed US
to Newport News, where we arrived
the next morning and got off the ship.
Again the Red Cross came to our rescue
with coffee and big cooky. Our stay
at Newport News was very short, and at
O'Clock We again walked up the gang
plank. But this time it was a real boat
that was waiting for uS-an English
ship OF considerable size. A funny
feeling came over me as walked Cd
that plank with my rifle IN my shoulder
and my pack on my back. thought
OF home and wondered il would ever
be lucky enough 10 get through the war
alive. But | soon forgot such feelings
and was ready to take chance.
From Newport News we sailed north,
arriving in New York Friday, August
I'D. Here we remained in harbor I'M
til Monday, August 25.h. During our
stay in New York | was jus. crazy to
get of the boat so | could see the city,
but OF course that was impossible.
After we left New York we sailed north
again, and in few days We were off
the coast of Canada. Here several Ca
madam ships joined our convoy, making
our total number of ships fourteen, be-
sides the submarine chasers and de-
stroyers which were our guards.
The first few days of our voyage were
very pleasant and the ocean was calm,
but when We reached the middle Of the
ocean il got very rough, much more
so than usual, according to what the
sailors told us. This lasted for about
| week, and seasickness seemed to get
most OF the boys, though was lucky
enough to escape 1t. Bit this was
not all the excitement we experienced.
On Saturday, September 18th, at ESQ
p. m, Bill Miller and were out on the
deck watching an aeroplane circling
over US when the alarm for submarines
was given, and about the same time an
explosion occurred which Jared our
boat very much. A German submarine
had fired torpedo at Our ship, but it
missed its mark. The torpedo passed
our boat about twenty feet behind us,
but as luck would have it, it struck a
| ship right beside ours and tore hole
in it sixteen feet square. But the ship
did not sink and it got into port safely.
Our submarine chaSefs were right on
| the job, and as soon as the German
| fired the torpedo they were after it, and
dropped several depth bombs in the
water In very short time the water
| became oily, and by that We knew the
submarine had been destroyed. But
from then until we arrived in London
| felt somewhat uneasy.
Arriving in London on Monday, Sep
TENDER 9th, We Immediately caught a
| train for several hours ride and got of
| at a city named Winchester, where We
stayed for few days, there being q rest
camp there. On September 18th we
| again boarded train - and rode TO
Southampton, where We caught another
boat and began the last lap of our trip
to France. We were on very fast
cross the Channel. And so arrived in
France on Friday, September 18th, at
lie Havre, very large seaport in
| northern France. From then until No.
| vember LIST, when was wounded, !
have been on the 60. Had couple of
long rides on the great French railroad,
but the best part of my travelling over
here has been on foot.
| will not go into detail to tell you
about my journeys through France, as
it would take too long, but will save
that to tell you when We get back homes
Just when that will be | cannot tell,
but it can't be too soon for me. You
can see have had very exciting time
in my trip oveaseas, and then, too, my
getting off with such slight wounds
certainly looks like the Lord is taking
care of me.
suppose you wonder how | spent
my Thanksgiving. Well, to be sure
| spent it in bed, and how did wish to
be home for dinner. | could see the
table set and all. and those pumpkin
pies looked so good. Well, did not get
pumpkin pie, but We had turkey and
dressing, celery and mashed potatoes,
and pie made out of grape jam. OF
course it did not taste like the meals at
home, but it sure tasted good for
change The dinner was given to us
by the Red Cross, and am sure it was
enjoyed by all.
My wounds do not give me any pain
and they are healing up as fast as pos
sible, Hope this finds you all well.
With much 1--we