Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-01-28
WITH THE MOTOR TRUCKS.
Monotony Hangs Heavy on the Boy
With Nothing to Do.

Monotony Hangs Heavy on the Boys
| With Nothing to Do.
Correspondence of The Yorkville Enquirer.
Rochelle, France, December 2s.-l
am still located near the city Of Ro.
chelle, with very little to do except
yearn for the time when can get back
I to work in The Enquirer office.
I used to think that Yorkville was
mighty dull and tiresome except wher
was at work setting type or feeding
a press, or revising the mailing list, OF
something like that; but I would bt
entirely content now to swap what
have for Yorkville and give some boot
The weather here now Is about what
we have at home in April, only little
more so. We have had one clear day
here in a month. The balance Of the
time it has been rain and mud, and
have a plenty of it.
There is very little to write about
here. I might give you few pages
about the city Of Rochelle, about the
Huguenots, the long siege by Cardinal
Richelieu, as we'll as present condi.
tions; but I cannot bring myself tc
copying history which is as available
to the average reader as 1t Is to me
and I do not see anything in the old
city that seems to be Of more than
passing interest.
AS to the people around here, there
Is nothing good to be said. They are
dirty, filthy and about as immoral as
so many pigs. No, am not exagger-
ating. The conditions are simply hor-
rible. II we had such a community
anywhere in York county, the grand
jury would never have an opportunity
to act upon it. The people would see
1t first and clean 1t out. wont try to
give you details, in the first place be-
cause, I do not want to and in the Sec
ond place, you would not print them
because they are not fit to print.
It is rumored about the camp that
we are going to move in about month.
One story is that we are going to be
sent to Belgium and another is that
we are going to be sent back to the
States. I hope the last story Is true;
but I am not banking on it, because
we have nothing definite. OF course I
would like to go to Belgium-anywhere
to get away from this place, even
though the next place may be no bet
ter; but would rather go back home
than anywhere else.
Christmas was like Sunday over
here. We had nothing to do, and plen-
ty to eat-good things-that is about
all.
The Motor Truck organization has
played big part in the war. 1t was
the motor trucks that got the marines
to Chateau Thierry; it was the motor
trucks that helped push the Germans
north from Verdun, and 1t was the mo-
tor trucks that made possible the wind
ing up of the little ball of yarn in the
st. Mihiel sector. Also it was the mo-
tor trucks that largely contributed to
the success Of the work Of the Thrift
eth and Eighty-frst divisions. OF
course, you know it was the soldiers
first, those brave, invincible men, who
went right on after the Germans and
cleaned them up; but it was the mo-
tor trucks that brought up the ammu-
milton, artillery, supplies, etc., without
which little could be accomplished.
But please do not understand that I
am entitled to any glory. I made one
long trip of about four hundred miles,
before the armistice was signed; but
after that the flu got me and although
am now all right, I have not done
great deal of driving since up to this
time. I have not been hunting any
glory or anything like that. I got into
this thing because Gen. Crowder had
my number, and the local board sent
me forward. I wanted to go because
knew America needed every man she
had, and that those who. held back
could not be looked upon as men.
From the day went to Clemson have
been trying to carry out every order
and discharge every duty to the best OF
my ability, and I am trying to do the
same thing now. If 1t had been my
lot to drive a truck in among the
bursting shells, my truck, I think,
would have gone there and kept going
until a shell got us both, or a bullet
got me. And while still stand ready
to do everything can as long as am
needed, or until am discharged-the
authorities above, saying when, still /
don't think you are going to blame me
for saying would rather be back
home.
Lewis M. Grist.