The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-01-09

Usher of the Mosier Bulletin, publica-
tion of which was suspended when he
went into the service.
Shortly after his arrival at Camp
Lewis the young editor was assigned
TO a company Of a regiment of the 9lst
Division. On the day before the regi-
ment departed, by way of Canadian
points for an Atlantic port of embark
atlon, much to the disappointment of
all the men, the company to which Mr..
Moe had been assigned was held under
quarantine because of an outbreak of
scarlet fever.
Now that il is all over, il was a
great experience. writes Sgt. Harold
Hershner in Christmas letter to his
father. Rev. J. l.. Hershner.
But there were times," continues
Sgt. Hershner, member Of the 364th
Field Hospital with the 9lst Division,
"when was very blue and discour
aged. Many night slept on the wet
ground, pitching my tent in the rain,
after hard days hike. But it is
over now. We already enjoy talking
of our experiences. but all agree that
at some time or other we had good
scare. There were good many times
that had thrill, to put it in the
words of the boys, had the fear of
God in me-. But nothing happened.
I'VE all like Belgium and the Bel
gians very much. One noticeable
thing about them, they seem to have
fine teeth. Client is the best city
have seen since coming over here.
Now the big question with all of
us is, when do we go homer"
Sgt. Hershner, Past Worthy Patron
of the order, while stationed at Camp
Lewis, was presented by the Hood
River Chapter of the Eastern Star
with kit containing knitted garments
and toilet articles. He writes that all
were lost. except sweater he wore,
in the Argonne forest.
Sgt. Hershner's letter was written
from Anderanaade, Belgium. In
chronological order he sets down the
movement of the 9lst Division from
the time it left st, Nazaire August "a
until news of the armistice was heard
at Weareghem. The day after peace
came the field hospital was moved to
Andernaade, where hospital was set
up for i'll and wounded.
According to the letter the 9lst
Division was held in reserve for the
st. Mihiel drive
"On the evening of September l3, !"
Sgt. Hershner tells his father, Il re-
ceived your cahlegram carrying birth
day fluctuations. 1t was wonderful
to get it,
In his letter Sgt. Hershner notes
how time was computed from the first
to the 24th hour, instead of turning
back again to one when IL is reached.
I'VE had our first experience under
fire from big guns at Brabant, writes
Sgt. Hershner, but were SO inexper-
enced that we were not frightened.
On October 2 we reached Very, where
We had some real thrills air raids,
bombs and lots of H. f. shells. We
left there October 6 and we were ready
to go.
Sgt. Hershner enclosed in his letter
photographs of famous cathedral in
Andernaade. The walls, roof and
tower of the wonderful building formed
target for German shells and were
often pierced. The hospital operated
by Sgt. Hershner's company was 10
Gated within three blocks of the
cathedral.
Sgt. Hershner says he is now eager
to go back home and resume his work.
This spirit prevails in the ranks of the
overseas soldiers, he saws.
ION two occasions, writes Sgt.
Kirby Ross, former member of Co. B,
Of the Third Oregon, who is a veteran
of overseas service with the l62nd
Regiment Of the 4lst Division, to his
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. c. p. Ross, now
Portland residents, 81 said a little
prayer and told you folks good bye.
The letters of Sgt. Ross are filled
with Interesting chronological data of
the Third Oregon. They arrived De
cember 29, 1917. at st. Nazaire. For
three months the Oregon troops were
engaged in training and military police
duty, and then were sent to Contres
for intensive training. June ! Sgt.
Ross and six comr AIDES were sent to
the front line trenches for advance
observations. His company went over
the top July in the Chateau Thierry
sector. 1t was here that Sgt. Ross
saw his comrade, Sgt. Fred Merritt,
Jr., of Portland, killed. In letter he
states that he returned to his fallen
comrade, after the company reached
its objective, and found that Sgt. Mer-
ritt had been killed instantly.
He was resting" he writes, "as
though he slept. Since | have visited
the grave and placed a wreath of
flowers on it.
OF the original seven men Of the
company sent into the trenches for
advance observations, Sgt. Ross alone
remains without scratch. All of the
other six were killed or wounded.
Sgt. Ross saw his comrade. Sgt.
Wheaton. another Portland boy, fall IN
action. He had supposed he had beer
killed until he recently received a
letter from him. written from hospi
tai, where he was convalescing from
dangerous wounds.
On July Is Sgt Ross was cited fol
the Distinguished Service Cross. This
honor was gained by heoric work ir
burying dead. July 5, answering 6
call for volunteers, Sgt. Ross anC
eight other men left their trenches
and while under fire cleared a space ii
front of them of bodies that had lair
there since June 6. The mass Of
putrid human flesh was piled in the
1 cover of forest. The next night Sgt
Ross and his comrades buried the deac
men. He declares that the horror Of
those two nights will lnger with hin
forever.
For three days. during the Chateau
Thierry drive, Sgt. Ross writes, hi
and his comrades lived on water anC
hardtack.
Shortly before the armistice Sgt
Ross was detailed to attend an officers
training school
Hell, Heaven or Hoboken by New