The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-03-27
BOYS TELL OF BIG
HISTORY-MAKING.
Set Fred Jones and Corp. Har-
old Larkin Write Modestly
of Hard Battling End
Engineers.


saw more Of the real war-th
part where only genuine Amer.
can CUTS could endure-than di
Freddie" Jones and "Fat'
(Heston) Larkin, Of Nezperce
he has right to stand up an,
receive the bouquet. From tn
opening Of the American driv
at Chateau Thierly to the fam
Gus forthcoming Of the Meus'
(under all the fire the Hun
could concentrate) the night be
fore the signing of the armistice
these lads battered their way
and came through with scarcely
{. scratch.
And, like the real heroes they
are, they tell of their wonderful
exploits the most wonderful in
the capacity of human expert
ence-in the following modest
way:
Engers, Germany. Feb. 25, 1919.
w. P. Conger Of The Herald.
Dear Friends at Home:
We thought we'd write few
lines this evening and briefly
tell you Of some Of the war that
we have taken part in.
Our first real experience took
place about eight miles from
Chateau Thierrv. around Bour-
actie and in Belleau Woods, with
the marines (Uncle Sans S best
warriors). We were here for
some fifty days. We were given
three days rest then hurried to
a point south Of Scissors near
Vierzy. Here we were under di-
rect artillery and machine gun
fire willie we constructed trench
es. As far as eats go, we didn t
get much. We had our reserve
ration which consisted Of raw
bacon, coffee, sugar and hard
tack. We couldn t cook any
thing, so we ate the bacon as it
was, and. say! chicken, turkey
or roast beef never came up to
that raw bacon at that time. |
Water was very scarce and sew
eral men lost their lives trying
TO get it. But this only lasted
FOR five days.
We then went for rest, one
whole week, near Meaux (our
from Paris a little ways). We
then moved up to the Toul sec
tor and lay in reserve a few
lays, then went in on the St
Mihiel drive, which lasted about
two weeks. After this we went
back into reserve again, then
moved back by Toul again, for
another week s rest. Then we
went to the Champagne sector,
up north Of Chalons, where we
stayed for thirty seven days. We
we're then transferred onto the
Argonne drive.
In Noted Meuse Battle.
On the night Of Nov. 10, we
we're up by Beaumont, south
.ast Of Sedan. We were ordered
% throw two foot bridges across
he Meuse river for the infantry
and Marines to cross on in MAX
ng an attack. The current was
7ery swift and it took quite a
ut Of time and we lost many
nen from our company (about
20 in all, killed and wounded). |
The Second Division casualties
hat night were estimated at $500
men.
The armistice took effect the
lext day at eleven a. m.
On Nov. II we started for the
thine, which was more Of an
endurance test than anything (
lse. You would not believe it.
nut we saw men hike till blood
anne thru the leather of their
hoes. We were urged on by
he announcement that the men
vho made the hike would soon
e in the States. But now that
y oic uClo, IL VIC ScG ava Nv
ore seven or eight months we
re lucky.
Engineers Had Most Hazardous
Work.
Perhaps you will wonder what :
ur duties were in the different :,
rives. We dug trenches, built
arbed wire entanglements, adj
anced in front Of the infantry
nd cut the enemy's wire, built
ridges, roads, helped move ar |
llery, acted as infantry, and I
ne compliment paid us is that I.
the End Engineers saved the !.
[arine Corps" !" :
We cannot understand why !
rr mail didn t get thru from I
ctober to January, as we wrote .
very chance we got, which was 7 7
bout once a week. +,
We are certainly glad this war; I