Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-03-06

with me, L am through with the
army-no picnic, By Georgel"
Oscar NJ. Smith, 249 NJ. P, A. p. o.
$50, La Aarve, France, says they are
comfortably located in wooden bar
racks with baths and electric lights.
That it rains SO much that it hardly
ever quits to snow. He says there
are three or four Missouri boys there
in his company. That they keep very
comfortable at night with three
blankets. They are not given a hint
about their homecoming.
David Wren, Battery E, 339 F. A.,
who returned on the Duca D'Aosta,
from Marseilles, received his discharge
a week ago from Jefferson Barracks.
Corporal Louis R. Miller, of Battery
E, 339 f. A., returned February 9th
from Marseilles, France. He receiv-
ed his final discharge from the army
at Jefferson Barracks and reached
home last week. He was in the
O%rientures Detail, which included Fir
ing Charge, Observation and Survey
ing and they used the French instru-
ments of the Metric System, which
kept them studying. The signing of
the Armistice prevented their seeing
active service, as n week more
would have told the tale. The equip
ment was all packed, marked and
their transportation was available.
He says they travelled acros the
United States from Camp Dodge to
Camp Mills in Pullman Cars, and were
RECALLED at many stations by the grand
old Red Gross. This was quite a con-
trast to the rest of the journey. They
were piled like cattle in the transport,
the decks we're their beds and stretch
ing while trying to sleep was at
a premium. After thirteen days of a
long hard trip they landed at Liver
pool, England, where after a weeks
stay they went to La Harve, France.
Thence began the zigzagging around
and through France, occasionally
stopping at Rest Camps. No more
Pullmans for them. They were herd
ed in box cars thicker than they ship
cattle, the floors constituting their
seats and beds. They were almost too
cramped for room to sit or lie down.
Our Range of Battery E was located
in South Central France near the
Cleremont regions. One of the bright
spots on our return trip was the fact
that on the transport, Duca D'Aosta
there was a bunk for each U. s.. boy
in our battery. After sixteen days
travel when we neared New York the
Mayors Committee with police band
came out to meet rs. When we came
: ashore there was the Salvation Army
and Red Cross extending their well
come by way of substantials and
delicacies. We. were a week at Camp
, Merritt, N. j., where he had gooo
meals and healthy recreations inter
spersed with sight seeing in New
York City. Spent a week at Jefferson
Barracks where excellent meals were
served. All this pleasant home COM
ing business made US forget the poor
meals and hardsbips in France. / an
r glad | saw 80 much that was interest.
ing, but if | a help it, Never AGAR
for me.
= Everett Q. Percy, 90. I, 5Sth Infan'
2 try, 4th Division, writes from Minden
s Germany: "We r a part of thu
: Army of Occupation and are station
ed in a little town about the size O
Pilot Knob. The town is in the valley
surrounded by mountains, with thu
= nObOllO 1otNCI WludlbS no wa,
h through. The scenery is more thar
beautiful here, almost equal to tina
8 of Arcadia Valley. But | will taxi
the A. V. every time. The slopes Oh
these hills look like they would al
:. most be impossible to climb, yet these
. square heads have them covered will
vineyards. They save all the manure
put it out in front of the house in the
q streets, then haul it part way up thu
hill and carry it the balance of the
. way in a kind of carrier that fits OF
their back like u packs. They have
: plenty of wine here and it is the only
: thing that is really cheap, 3 to6 mark
a bottle Many of the American boy
: are trying to exhaust the supply ]
1 think. We are only So kilometerl
: from Coblenz, the city on the Rhine
l hope to have a chance to visit there
before I leave here. We have hat
i very little cold weather. Do not be
Q lieve it has been 10 degrees below
freezing this winter, I am glad it has
not been, as We have quite q lot o.
guard duty. The balance of u tim'
is takenDp by drills, etc."
Private John A. Collins writes from
France on February 2: "Don't think
| will be home for two or three
months. / weigh more than I eve
did in my life. Have not had a Letter
from home for two weeks. l have
not seen any n owe here that
knew in the U. s. A."
Edwin Heider writes from st. Louis
D 81 received my discharge at Camp
Grant, Ills, and l am sur glad to be
home once more. Ireceived very littl
mail while / was over there. Had jus
one bundle of papers, and in one o.
those / saw mention of the death o
Russell Riggs. On that morning on
regiment was to parade for u Gen
erai and also decorate a captain witt
a d. s. O. and / really did not know
what / was doing half the time, l fel
80 badly. A few days later 1 saw
Lieut.. Dudley Riggs and did not ge
to talk to him then, as WI were In
drill formation, I had a fellow wit
q was an orderly at headquarters to ge
3 his tent number for me. The mex
day was Saturday and we always go
half of a holiday on that day and
decided to go and see him. But o.
IF returning from dinner that Saturda,
we were given just 80 minutes to pacl
: up and move. The river or whicl
10 NO vuara amnad WAS rising an faa