Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1919-01-10
SGT. MURFEE WRITES
OF TRIP ACROSS
December 10, 1913
Dear Homefolks:

Dear Homefolks:
| will try and
explain some of my twelve
months in France. | have had
six and one-half monshs at the
front. | was fortunate enough
not to be wounded although
have had morrow escapes in some
places. The Auto Repair De-
tachment | came over with nev-
er gave me an opportunity to re.
join after my arrival in France.
| left Fort Constitution, N. H.,
December 13, 1917. q always
thought that 13 was unlucky).
| arrived at Fort Adams R. l.,
the lame date. There, we FORM
ed this Auto Repair Outfit from
all parts of the Northeastern De.
partment; this took nearly a
month for US to get equipped.
On the 1lth of January we
left Fort Adams for Camp Mer-
ritt, N. ]. On the 18th dav of
Jan. we sailed from New York
on the English Transport r. M.
S. Carpathia. This boat was
sunk in May, but on our trip
over we didn't see submarine.
We went from New York t)
Halifax and then the Convoy
was made up. We stayed there
four days, and the day we left it
was showing and the sea was
rather rough. About three hours
after leaving, there was an aw-
full time with sea sickness.
There were more than $50 SOL
diers sick. We did not have the
best accommodation, nor did we
have very much to eat. There
were too many on Board although
there was no one to put the
blame on except the one who
had charge of the mess. The
Commanding Officer improved
by making a complete
change and put the mess in
charge of an American Officer.
Our boat arrived at GLASGOW,
Scotland the last day Of January.
1t was the most beautiful seem
cry | have ever seen, coming up
the Clyde river, it is about 80
miles from the mouth of the
Clyde to GLASGOW. From there
we took the train for Winchester,
where we stayed for two days.
From there to La Hans, and this
is where | contracted scarlet
fever. | remained in camp for
10 days, and in the meantime
my organization left for Mailly, |
but at that knew not where
they had gone After 10 days,
| was released from the Camp
and joined a Casual Company
which was sent to st. Annyon,
where the 4lst Division was at
that time. This Division was
being used as a replacement
Division. | was held there un-
til about the End of March when
1900 of US were sent to the 42nd
Division. We arrived at Tune
vile on March 4th. There we
we're assorted and sent to differ
snt Regiments. The most of
hem being used as replacements
'or Infantry. Those who had
lad more than 3 years expert
,nce in Artillery were sent to
he 150th F. A.
No one knew what was hap
)ening, everyone was held ignor-
mt as to what was coming off.
All of lis were under the impress
zion that we were being sent to
'ejoin the Former Organization,
)ut when they told us what was
yoing to happen, there were some
wearing, some crying, some
and everyone was after
III argument. Ii was of no use
t was orders so therefore we
had to make the best of it. | was
'riendless. no tobacco and no
1lace to buy any. This was all
occasion that | had to ask one of
the Y. M, C. A., huts for a fav-
,r, but it is something you very
seldom see in France is the "Y"
giving away anything. | advise
you to beware of funds donated,