The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-08-21


that my one nearest and dearest
friend Mother" had been i'll since
February Ord On the oath of April
got letter from home stating that
mother must go. All hopes of saw
ing her had been given up. Imme
diately | put in papers for my return
home and for discharge on a G. o. 10
That very night it WAS made out and
the next morning was on its way to
Headquarters. The 26th | got let
ter again from home stating this time
not that mother was better but that
she had gone Gone where | might
never see her smile again in this
world. She had died April 8th and
had received word Is days later
No one except the boys who have
passed through the same ordeal will
realize what that meant to me. For
lnany weeks | battled with myself
and worked to keep up my courage.
But always that picture of Mother
was before my eyes. | was acting
Mess Sergeant at the time and had
my hands full. besides much study
ing to do in regard to my work.
My G. o. Il papers arrived May
14th, too late for what l wanted them
for. Due to some overlooking by
the officers | did not receive them
until May 26th. They had held them
y days unnecessarily mot a square
deal by any means. Under the con-
dition at home l decided to use them
Just the same.
Therefore on the 26th of May l left
my Co. and went to a Glass Camp to
be reclassified and assigned 10 an
other Co. | landed in Lemons Clas-
sfication Camp and was assigned to
1851 Casual Co. bound for New York.
We stayed there in tents, not doing
much labor; working now and then
on near by Fair Ground (as a Fair
was coming Off remaining there un-
til June 9th when we were marched
to forwarding camp miles away.
Here we stayed until June 18th. On
this day we headed for the Belgium
Camps about 8 miles distant carrying
our packs On arriving at $50 that
evening | assure you we were foot
sore and weary quite ready for stop.
It was much more pleasant here than
at the former camps but of course
We were not anxious to stay.
On the 10th we picked up tracks
again but this time by train on our
way to Brest Our Train. by the
way. was special Ha! fla, that is
a Special" for us, but instead of Pull
man Sleepers and Parlor Cars it was
/ Box Car Good old L. S. A. Box
Cars. much more comfortable than
the French ears.
Finally we arrived in Brest on the
/ 18th of June at II noon; unloaded
/ lined up for dinner you know every
/ thing is line up in the army. ate oul
dinper at the Casual Mess. kept there
on purpose to feed troops on theil
way to embark at the sea port, A.
fter feed it WAS hustle again, thi,
time all mp hill. \ five mile hike
1 brought us to our camp. Here {
disappointment awaited us. We
thought Two days stop would be The
| last of France but alas ii was only {
dream. For seven days we remained
Everyday was Inspection and some
times twice a day.
On June oath with IIooray W.
he'd orders to Fall Out with full pack
rely to leave at 100 p. M. Again
We marched this time for the las
tie on French soil, direct to the sea
poHt and were loaded on to tug boat
ard taken to the L. S. S. -
a Battle Ship which held 1860 sol
dicrs besides a ship crew of 600 sail
A fa ~
our way home
At p NJ. of that day we pullet
out of Brest toward the land of incl
Sam with the finest weather. Oh
the 26th il was not so calm. A lit
tie rough. Just enough to make
fellow feel he had a stomach. w
began to set our watches back OF
this day so that by the time we arriv
ed in L. s. A. we would not be aheat
of You all, so to begin with / hr. ant
% min. the hands were turned back
The boat took the northern route
as they claimed that to come direc
across would mean much sickness
and deaths on board, il would be 81
/, hot The Goth was calm and onl,
the one duty of setting our watehe
back 35 min. married the day.
On the 9th it was beastly hot
The drinking water was go hot tina
one could cook an egg in II. Final
II in desperation some of rs flee
our canteens and put them und"r th'
salt water faucets in the wash room
OF course this was against the rule
and the offirers soon put stop t.
that Thus we had to drink ho
water or go without To cover up al
our troubles, this day the y. NJ. c. A
X Cs and J. w. b. gave every sol
der on board a box whiuh | aSsur
you was much appreciated. 1t con
tanned the following: 3 bars of chO
colate, 2 pkgs. Chewing Gum. 3 pkgs
Cigarettes, 2 Handkerchiefs. l tub
Tooth Paste, | Small box of hare
Candy.
To finish the day Father Time OF
Board went back 30 minutes.
The 2Sth was so cool that one need
ed wrap. The captain said tina
we were near an Icehurg, but we di'
not see any This day our time
went back Is min. The 29th was an
other Hay Maker 1t was the hot
test but the happiest, as we got
wireless stating that peace WAS sign
ed OF course we celebrated a LITTLE
Fired few guns, q in all and Sc
our clocks back 80 minutes. TIL
last day of June was as all others
Run into a school of whales in p. NJ
which was rather interesting. l. {
wondering which one swallowed
Innnh On min nnl,n nIIr MAtch q