Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-01-22

to go right on to the front when we
landed. However, such was not to
he. and | suppose 1t is best 80. We
have won very high praise from
the commander of the base section,
| in view Of our service to the incom-
ing doughboys during tho Spanish
flu. That epidemic was quite as
bad over hero as in the States, and
we acted as nurses for all the sick
troops coming into Brest. We car
ried their packs, put up their tents,
cooked their food and lived in the
mud and rain ourselves.
| have not seen a whole lot Of
France, nor am | very favorably
impressed with what ! have seen,
The country IS pretty enough, but
the people and customs are so
strange. The fields here are fenced
in by big hedges and are but little
bigger than our garden Two
wheeled carts arc the only vehicles
they have. and if they use more than
one horse the animals are hitched
Cne in front Of the other. And to
look at the peoples feet you would
think YOU were in Holland. They
all wear wooden shoes--that is. the
poorer class. OF course, this may
not be the case all over France.
want to tell you something about
Paul. | have not heard from him,
Of
had been sent to Paris island How
ever, great many casuals come
here from the front. and from them
have learned great deal about
his division and regiment. He is
III the 42d Division, which is known
T.. "rhe Rainbow Division" 1t was
the first to come over and has done
more fighting than any other
division Of the American army.
That division was with the famous
Fifth and Sixth regiments Of Ma
rines at Chateau Thierry: and it
vas his regiment Of engineers that
helped the Marines to fight their
way out OF Bellau Woods. Indeed.
there has been no battle OF consc-
qucncc in which he Tor at least his
divisiom has not taken part. And
included in the Third Army, or army
Of occupation.
| am in the best-trained and best
fighting outfit in the world, for that
G NJ fnI IL.
themselves: but | would have given
| much to have been with Paul. !
will always regret that | did not
| join him at Grecnville. Ills
division is to parade in the States
when they come back. They will,
OF course. bc among the last to get
back. but know you all will not
begrudgc him the honor of being
N that Third Army.
do not know when We will get
back to the States. 1t may be soon.
and it may be long after all the
other troops are there. You see, we
can be sent anywhere in the world
and kept there without causing war.
| But whether | come back soon or
later. do not worry; III be back
some time. have not had chance
10 make that allotment yet, for
have not been paid lately.
Well, think this is a pretty long
letter but whether you will call it
Il victory letter or not, can't say.
AS for victory, we all knew that it
was the only possible outcome as
soon as Uncle Sam went to war.
But whether this war will be the
last war, and, indeed, whether the
present peace will be lasting or not,
is question the answer to which
! am far from being certain about.
The Germans are beaten beyond a
doubt, and | am glad that did
what I could toward beating them,
and wish | could have done more.
Have the best Christmas you can
'--have one for Paul and me both
for If we know you all are having a
good time it will help us with ours.
with love to all. | am,
| Your son,
Archie.