The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-02-27
Q o 900 90 90 90 o
o WHY | DIDN'T GET
o OVER THE TOP
Q (By Returned Soldier) {
0 o 90 O O O 0 Q 0 0 0 0 0 . {

Q (By Returned Soldier) Q
90 OOOO 90 o o 600 20 0 .
wanted to be an officer
And fight in the foremost ranks
I figured that could NOW a swath
AS wide as the Army tanks.
| went to Father full of fire
/ With ambitions mountains high,
But he said, My son,
Let those go who wish to die.
| was anxious to go and would have
gone,
If it hadn't been for Pop,
That is, the reason, I'm telling you
now,
Why / didn't get over the top.
When the draft came along, my num-
was One.
| went in September you know,
All filled with ambition for killing
the hun.
And anxious to strike the first blow,
But the Captain, saw | was anxious
:" to learn,
So, when the first bunch went away.
He called me Corporal Instructor
Remarking, that | was to stay.
I grieved few days, then, my spirits
came back.
And again went to work with a will,
Believe me CT not, the Rockies will
say
The Corp is some cheese" at the
! drill.
This bunch of raw Farmers was soon
whipped IN line
And | was just champing to 60,
| was proud of my Rockies, the work
l had done,
The way we could drill was not slow.
We got some new horses, now, at this
We were breaking the Bronchos to
ride.
! was good with horse, when it
came down ito force,
For, to Conquer, and win, was my
pride.
The day was now set for going across
Ny spirits arose like a lark,
We had worked down the range, to
the point Of a pin,
Felt sure of hitting the mark.
Our boys were all eager to get at
the hun.
7 loved every one Of the bunch.
We had planned how together we'd &c
over the top;
When the Captain, gives me this
bunch,
"We will make you a Sergeant, and
let you remain,
We are needing good trainers like you
To stay at this camp, and work into
shape
More Rockies Bluey, Bluey, Blue.
There is no use in protesting,
You daren't talk back when working
for old Uncle Sam.
The words | smothered, under my
breath
Were stronger by far than just Damn
Sleep, Hope and Youths vigor viii
work wonder cures,
| soon was training new men.
And the stunts | had pulled and wa:
held there to teach,
was doing all over again.
But the day came at last that We
were to leave
They needed more men at the front
Now imagine the joy of this little boy
Il thought Of myself as no runt.)
The delay was not long until we were
on board.
And ready for starting to France
And take it from me, we were pack
ed in so tight,
With the coolies we hadn't chance
We Swelled out our chests and loud
did we cheer
As Liberty's Statue we passed,
We were actually starting, as we sup
posed,
And would get over the top at last
But the curses of fate seemed to rest
in my path
Our boilers had busted they said,
Nine days for repairs was the sen
tence we drew,
With our boys there all seeing red
All things have an end, and again we
were off,
/ Now madden than H. at the hun.
! You are guessing it right, in the line
! of transports
, When you put US the very last one
As the subs you may know pick the
last one in line,
Our Captain was wise to that fact.
By crowding on steam, we pulled uI
one notch,
Of getting us, that's all they lacked