Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1919-01-10

try TO write anything more amour
these terrible rs days we were in this
drive, Il is about all | can think Of
but realize it doesn't make pleasant
reading. / want to tell you about
| the night our division was relieved.
Our company was huddled in a room
in she'll battered building in the
/ village of Somerance. The Germans
were still Smelling the town and I'll
tell you they were fang thick and
near. We knew that in few more
hours (if we lived) we would be so
far back we would be safe. But in
the midst Of all the Smelling and con
fusion / prevailed upon Bats to sing.
OF all the songs / ever heard that
one was the sweetest, If am not at
the roll call"
Well we were relieved and were
taken way back for a rest. We stop
ped in rather historic village, DOM
remy", the home of Joan Of Arc. /
went all through her home the church
tshe attended, etc. It is a great place
for those of Catholic faith. There
were lots Of sOuveniers and while /
think Of it, you say / needn't bring
any German helmets home as souve-
niers. You need not worry, / won't.
don't want thing they have got.
Although | have had plenty Of OPP
portunities to get them off the live
ones and also the dead ones. All the
souveniers / care to bring back with
me are some of the little things had
when came and have carried
through it all, We stayed in the first
place few days and then came here.
We are now located in what used to
be an aviation camp. We are about
one mile from Neurf- Chateau, one
of the larger towns of France. We
can go there when we want to, to
make a long story short / am situat-
ed like a well-to-do farmer, not in
town, but have all the conveniences
one could wish for, a good place to
rest, and you can just bet am rest
ing, resting. Although hear we will
leave here tomorrow for a three day
hike, we move south. Who knows,
that may be our first move toward
the coast and home?
Bats comes around two or three
times day and sings for me and
says for me to be sure to remember
him to mother.
Oh, yes, another question you ask.
Have | become acquainted with the
coolies? Yes, ! have been covered
with them. 1t may sound strange to
you to hear me say they were the
least of my troubles, but | have been
through the delousing station, and |
have a brand new outfit from head
to foot and am rid of them now. |
guess you have heard the old saying
II may not be pretty but Pm awful
ly Clean" well, that's me.
Twenty-nine men from our comp
any are on IL day furlough now and
just as soon as they return the rest
of us will go. They are at a big
leave area arranged and maintained
by the U. S. government for the men
of the A. +. F. Paris is one of the
places visited but most of the time
is spent in and around AK lie Balm. (.
I'm told it is great place but Of
course can't write about something
I've never seen. More about the
place when ! get there.
/ have been debating for the last
half hour whether | ought to bring
this to close So says |, says ! to
myself, what's the use, | can't tell
it all.
Any way I'm getting to be some
thing like an old miser who boards
his money and valuables away for a
"rainy day. | am boarding my news
away for that great day when am
back with you. With love to all the
kin, regards to all friends, and lots
and lots Of love for you, I'll close.
Your son,-LANDIS
have completed my three day
hike and Of course you have heard
the great news-it's all over--l am
coming home soon. Never has
news spread so rapidly and caused SO
much rejoicing. Everywhere the AL
lied flags are flying and every kind of
celebrations are going on. Every
where we are greeted with "Long live
America" "God bless the U. S."
etc am happy, a great load has
been taken off my mind and rejoice
with these French people, but the day
Of real rejoicing has not arrived for .
me and won't until / am with you.
want you to promise not to worry
about me any more, think of me as
being away on a few months visit
and having a great time. | probably