Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-01-16
INTERESTING LETTER
v. l.. yanDusen Writes Interesting
Letter About Armistice News
Oyer There.

pleased to have letter handed me
while ! was listening to the incessant
whine and whirr of French 75's and
German G. l. cans, which you might
understand better if called their
Websterian names-Government Is
sue, or heavy artillery shells. To re-
ceive your letter at such time was
indeed joy, TO know and again
realize that somewhere in the far, far
away was college and friends. the
thoughts of which recalled sweet
memories of happier days. Do you
wonder that that night | hummed to
myself that dear old, GLORY and
Love to our College Dear, etc"
Notice, say hummed, as ! dare not
do more lest some sophisticated
being recognize something German in
its melody But at that, ! believe
my operate talent is Of such a grade
as to sufficiently camouAage my re-
semblance to any tune. NIGHT wahr?
Since landing in France I have had
variety Of experiences. Not all of
them have been unpleasant. l have
never been favorably impressed with
the country or the people. | had ex-
pected to find both rather quaint, but
not antique. You speak of France
where so much history was made. If
you were to see the country, l be-
lieve you would suggest that they
stop awhile and make country first.
About all that | have seen that I
liked in France was the scenery and
l have had to stretch my imagination
greatly to enjoy that. We soldiers
have done some things which you in
the States would regard as impos-
sible. BY this ! refer especially TO
physical accomplishments. For in
stance | will take my own case
Since landing in France. my weight
was reduced by work and sickness to
100 lbs. When in this condition, can
you imagine me marching % miles
OH dark. rainy night with equip
ment weighing at least l25 lbs; and
the night after, 10 miles; and then a
few nights later Z miles with 25 lbs.
more; And then after few days
drill and poor feed with the 125 lbs
make another 20 mile hike at night
through mud and become so "all in"
that fell asleep twice during the
marching. But since then have
had work which caused me to pick up
so | am now as healthy as ever and
can work with the best of them.
My outfit" company has been
on the front twice and was there
when the armistice was signed. 1t
was my great fortune to carry the
message to my company to cease fir
ing. Well will remember that oc-
casion. For several weeks before the
armistice was signed, had been de-
tailed from my company as a mes
sage carrier, or runner" between
the Battalion headquarters and my
company.
Our Battalion Headquarters was
situated upon a mountain and was a
special target for the Boche. had
been lying for an hour in a shallow
trench listening to Fritzie play his
grand little finale with his Austrian
Whiz-Bangs and cuddling a little
closer to Mother Earth as each shell
landed particularly close and sent
shrapnel singing over me. when sud-
denly Fritz declared an intermission
and | heard my Major yell, F. Com
pany Runner. Glad to get out of
that place. yelled back, coming
up" And he with a smile handed me
a slip with these words: "Armstice
terms take effect at IL o'clock; all
firing will cease on or before that
time. Inform your men at once and
have them stay low"
Although it was then $3.50. had
had no breakfast to eat AND only a
few "hard tacks" the day before. And
too, was suffering from sore feet
and legs. But realizing the mean
ing of this | started on a run. My
course ran down one mountain and
up another Ordinarily rested seve-
raj times in making the climb but
this time / only took one res AS
soon as | got in the trench J began
telling the boys the ne'ys as / hast