The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-01-16

worked on dugouts, front line barb
wire work, more barbwire back of the
front. This was sometimes night
work and some day work, depending
on the observation of the enemy. We
had our first man wounded here. This
is the first time | had ever seen men
wounded or killed by shell fire.
We left this sector about the first
of April, and we were sure glad to
leave. as the wind was awful. The
dugouts full of rats and we were AL
nearly tired out. We went back and
then started north by train, and nix
ing, mostly hiking, to help stop the
German advance. We went on the
Montdidier sector in which was the
village of Cantigny then belonging to
the Germans. We consolidated all the
positions here, that is, dug all the
trenches, and put in the barbwire and
machine gun pits. We were shelled
here day and night and we never eX-
pected to come out of there alive. And
then on May 2Sth, we decided to take
Cantigny. and on the morning of the
2Sth we went over the top" with the
Infantry and took C%antigny. We dug
strong points and put in barbwire that
morning, and never have seen since
so much bloodshed in such a small
area or SO much artillery used. In
the evening we went into position in
the front line with the d~oughboys and
in the next ~ hours they launched
sever counter attacks against us with
tanks and Infantry, but could not
break our lines. We put in four days
and four nights out there without
day, and had two days rations on our
backs. That was the first time | ver
took water out of a dead mans can
teen or went through his pack Tor his
was continual barrage and it was only
a matter of luck for d man to come
out alive. We were relieved the fifth
day and went back to cur camp, about
~ hllOlilCICIS llOIl lO llollI, III NFI
ed up, but we held the same sector for
a month and then went back for a
rest, but only got back and received
Il requirements when we started for
the Soissons-Rheims salient. We
went there on trucks and pulled a sur
prise attack on them at 4:15 a. M, and
for four days and nights we were in
the thick of it. Our division struck
just southwest Of Scissors. We were
relieved then by the Gordon Highland
ers. We went back and went on a
quiet sector at Powt-a-MOussOn and
there got our outfit filled up again and
on September IS, our division went
into position at Beaumont on the St.
Mihiel salient and started that norm
ing the big ST. Mihiel drive.
Our company was selected to go
over with the tanks which is the most
dangerous work there is, as the tanks
are the center of fire. But that was
one glorious drive and we could hard
ly keep up with the Germans. That
was a grand success for US.
We were relieved there in a few
days and the 3rd of October Jul divi-
sion went into position nea Verdun
and attacked in the ArgOnne woods.
This was another hell for us and was
the worst drive of all. We were re-
lieved the 18th of October and went
back heal Borley-Duc for a much need
ed rest. The 2Sth Of october went
back to the front and u company
was attached to the Goth Infantry.
Our division fought days and we
hiked nights and at the town of Vancq
near Mouzon, on the Meuse we put in
a bridge made Of railroad iron and
rock under observation OF the enemy
and we sure received some awful
Smelling and we were in no way pro-
tected. That night we made a forced
march and arrived at Chemery and
went into position there near Sedan
and were near Sedan when the last
shot was fired. That is most of the
career of your son while abroad, and
| guess hat you see that not n
moment of my time was wasted since
leaving the states.
We have received numerous cita-
lions from American and French gen.
erals, alike. On our left sleeve we
are to wear a red stripe and a. red
diamond with a white border under.
1t is very pretty and something like
the illustration above. l have had
nearly a million narrow, escapes so
you see | have a lot to be thankful for.
Our division is a regular army divi-
sion and we have taken more prison
ers than any other division and at one
time had four divisions against ua, at
another time six, and another time we
had eight, so you can see from that
what kind of an outfit l am with.
How is everyone at home? | hope
you are all as well as L am. | am
sorry that we didn't know of the Faith
er's Letter Day as communications are
very poor here so | hope this one and
tho ono wrote q connie of dayS ago