The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-01-02
LIEUT.. L0KENSCARD IN
THICK OF FIGHTING
Son of MIR. and Mrs. Olaf LOkensgard
Writes About Death Grip With
Enemy for Ten Long Horrible
Days Battle.

| Lieut.. Melvin Lokensgard, 3O3 Eng.
Train, writes his parents, County
gard Of Sawyer, Of his thrilling exper-
fences in France. Lieut.. Lokensgard
took part in the famous ten days bat
tie which was considered one of the
fiercest engagements in the entire
war. He writes as follows:
Somewhere in France, Oct 3, 1913.
Dear Mother:
am glad you are al well and 80
busy. That brings happiness and corr
tentment. ! can say the same Of my
self. I am well and busy, hence hap
py and contented.
Many things Of which I can not
mention have happened since I wrote
to you. September, 1918, is . month
l shall never forget. 1t has broughs
much that was new to me and to us;
it has given US many days Of happi-
ness, and we also have had the other
side. But for the cause it has been
an encouraging and satisfactory
month, and that is all that counts af-
ter all. l know it will continue to be
so from now on. We have done our
bit for the time being and will have
rest soon, within very few days per-
haps our relief will arrive.
This is as far as got. It is now
Nov. 5th. How time flies. This is
election day back in the States. While
l was sitting in my dugout writing
this letter on Oct Bird, an order came
in for us to move out of the line that
night. stopped right where was
as you have already seen, and never
got back to it until now. We thought
we were going back for rest, but
we got everything but that. We moved
for four nights and hid in woods and
hollows during the day. Then we had
days rest and then were sent back
into the line at different point after
another four-day stretch of march
ing Since then we have been in the
battle every minute. Now we are 60
ing back for an actual rest of some
days. Thank God for a chance to
sleep. Last night was my first night
Of sleep since Oct. 80. l wish / could
tell you where we are, then you could
read a lot of news about US, for our
sector has been mentioned in dis
patches every day since we took it
over, as one of the worst to conquer.
Our boys certainly have done well. I
am mighty proud Of them all, you can
be sure. If the war should end to-
morrow, should always feel that the
boys of our division were responsible
for it to a large extent, as much as
any American division, and that is
saying lot
For ten long terrible days we were
held along a river of some size with
steep hills and much woods on the OPP
posite side. We were on one side, the
enemy on the other. One day wei
would get across, the next we would
nave to move back. The hills were
lined with machine guns we'll protect
ed, and 3-inch artillery. He'll can
never be worse than that. Shells were
bursting everywhere, machine guns
were always clicking away and gas
was not uncommon. did not consider
my life worth a nickel and didn't care
rap. That's how one gets when un
der fire.
Here l was stopped again. This let
ter will certainly be a mess. 1t is now
Nov. 14th and we are away back of
the lines in a quiet little French vii
lage, resting, eating and sleeping. It
seems strange not to hear the guns
roaring, also not to have the shells !
dropping around you. It is relief,
you can be sure, and we are enjoying
it to the fullest.
1t seems almost unbelievable that
the war is over, for time at least.
For few days, at least, there is no
more destruction of life and proper
ty. believe the war is over for good
and before so many months we will be |
home again. Oh, what feeling!
l intended to tell you great deal
when l started this letter but by now,
so much more has happened that l
won't comence to enumerate. However,
after being held for ten days our boys
broke through the German line and
chased the Boche for Is miles. May
be you think we were not busy? Aye,
aye, we ran ourselves sick. We chas-
ed them until we were all in, and then
we were relieved and sent back here.
Everybody was Just entirely played
out and still we had not caught up
can you beat that?
On our way back here we heard
the armistice being signed. Then
there was JOY supreme, you can bet.
Well, have some work to do, 90
will mail this now before it is delayed
again. Love to all.
1t. M. o. LOKENSGARD,
3O3 Eng. Train,
unCEpu uvrSC DvEn nv DDAH<~r,