The Mankato free press., 1919-02-07

DuC was lucky enough 10 ScL away
from it before it happened. One
time had a piece of shrapnel go
through my rear tire. just went
little faster until / got to more safe
place to fix it, You were saying that
must have. seen some sights. Well,
think I have all right. / will tell
some of them when get home. Too
bad to put down on paper. Did you
get the letter and things sent you?
sent you a German anti tank shell,
Prussian guards artillery shoulder
straps, nose of a Dutch shell, and
Gott Mitt Uns belt buckle. Tell pa
he can be thankful this war did not
come twenty years ago, and think
it will not be in my time when the
next war comes, lots of love and
hardships.
"Well, l hope we can soon come
home and see the folks, and above all
have one good feed at home. When /
come home / will have mama make
pie and roast chicken for a week or
two at least / am so tired of beef
that I don't want to look cow in
the face for year."
"Dernbach, Germany, January 9,
1919.-.Dear Folks: Received your
Christmas package the second of
January. 1t certainly was treat to
have some real home made candy
again. And that vest feels good too.
But l have been lucky this winter
as fellow in the Supply company
gave me his sheep skin coat to wear.
1t is not so very cold in this part of
Germany. We have had snow couple
of times but it meltS away in day
or two. But the rain! Oh, the rain!
1t rains nearly every day. i have
a good equipment for rain though. I
have a pair of hip boots, slicker coat,
slicker pants, and a pair of four
buckle overshoes, SO l can manage
to keep dry, and another thing, we
have warm quarters to sleep in.
When we were on the big drives it
ground ith one poncho and one
blanket We were on different
spot every night SO we could not fix
up anyway. Am still driving few
miles per day, but not as much as
when the war was on. We have our
outposts scattered out about thirty
miles ard l have to go out there
with orders couple of times day.
Il have a Harley Davidson now in
stead of an Indian. Did You ever get
the little thiEgs l sent you? Am
sending you German dress helmet,
belt buckle, and a pair of aviator
goggles. I would seId you more, but
we are away from the old battle
fields, so far into Germany that
cannot get anything now, and when
we were there we could not carry SO
much dope. You should have seen
the deer / saw in Germany. The
country here is full of real woods,
and when l go to the outposts l see
a deer every once in awhile. /
would kill one but they will not per-
nit us. In France l saw a few deer,
but wild boars are the best hunting
there. l have seen them weigh about
three hundred pounds and they cer-
tainly will fight Their tusks are
about five inches long and the stiff
hair on their heads stands up staight
when they are chased. The other day
I t fell down a cement 5raiF baCk&ssSs'
II thought / broke every bone in my
body, but | am over it now and feel
ing fine. Wish / could be home to
make some real money. One thing
the army has taught ma is to save a
little money. have been in the army
nearly two years now. The bunch I
wen1 with have certainly been lucky.
Some of the other boys have died
off behind the lines like Johnnie
Larson ard Art. Daily. We can go to
Coblenz or a pass for day. Herd
of Utoft is there and I am going to
go down, ard probably can find him.
l nearly forgot to tell you that l am
recommended for D. G. C. Hope I
get it. Hope l will be home soon to
tell you all that has happened here.
Good bye and thanks for the Christ
mas package.-From Carl"