Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-06-11

/ you Know It's all m the game. W are located
about one mile from the Argonne Woods and
/ ride up there nearly every day to see the
sights and curiosity. Well good luck to all.
| From Orvey Jerman, Motor Truck Co. si2,
France to his parents at Reaastown.l
April 10, 1919.
day. the FIRST time in week and a half.
expect il was because Of the food. Its queer
that you should have such large food
thought the snow sas all gone. So there is
/ no school again. The hu must be a fright
| around there. | thought ! would have some
news Of moving when | next wrote but orders
are the same. We are just waiting for the
other truck company 10 come in and take
place. just got back from one Of the most
wonderful trips I've ever made, Monday
morning there was six trucks called out to
Sampigny, about Eve miles from St.hIihiel,
about 50 or 30 miles from here. We got
started by and stayed over night in
o'clock. After dinner they loaded our trucks
with the property Of some German prisoners
gave US FOrds to go up and see the ruins of
St.Mihiel. and we were sure lucky 10 get this
chance. | wouldn't have missed 1t for any
| thing. We went back another way and
| the German trenches and dugouts. We went
into lot of them. They sure thought they
were going TO keep that territory. Some of
| their trenches were Of concrete and
inside of dugout built into the side of
| hill next to the road. that just like
house. made of reinforced concrete; concrete
| hoors and pillars, and steel l-beams on the
| ceiling. There was many rooms in il with
beds and different things. Then beyond this
looking over level stretch Of perhaps a mile.
was just mass of shell holes and trenches.
| The trees that were left standing were dead.
some black and charred. others with all the
smaller branches Oh because Of the gas; And
the whole field literally covered nth barbed
wire. 1t will take years and yeaiS before
the French this fof farming pur-
poses again. Then another interesting place
| that We visited was the German cemetery
One thing is certain, they certainly respected
their dead They had granite monuments for
\ every grave, and they were all engraved too.
This too. shows that they thought they
never going TO give up that land. Another
| thing. on the tombstone was a photograph
| Of the dead man, made on porcelain and fast
ened right TO the tombstone. There only
one left though with the picture it
others had been picked of by souvenir hunters.
| In one end of the cemetery was buried many
| French aviators who had met their death
there the German lines. These the Ger
mans had given just as nice grave as their
own men although not with the granite tomb
stone, and on every one was the French cOlOrs.
The next day started on our homeward
plses If a loan op arc We Slammed here for
2ta hours. | saw the room in which Joan of
Arc was born, and was also in her bedroom,
and her church. although not pretty on
the outside. it was sure beautiful the inside.
l never saw such pretty statues except IN Ma
pOleOns tomb in Paris saw. the clothes she
/ We got home by sir o'clock and had won
/ derful weather all the time. So don't you
think had n wonderful trip?
1
| and also Joan of Arc collection with one
or two Of Nerdun and Rhine.
We just got orders to pack up. We expect
| TO turn trucks to the new truck COM
| pany that came this afternoon. and leave
tomorrow. We all feel that We are to go
HOME though Of course C we esSt J asI;
| April IL. 1919.
Dear Mother and All: Well We don't go
/ after all today, because last night we got new
orders to turn our trucks in at Neufehotean.
| got out of making this last trip because
Of dental work. and III say l was lucky. so
the last trip J made with my truck was the
one to St.Mihiel. and another driver drove
her for the last time in cur company. when
got back from St.Miheil there was photo
| grapher here had my picture taken as
| souvenir. Am enclosing two l have driven
Elizabeth about $4,000 miles through France.
Not bad is 1t? expect We will draw trucks
| again at Brest and work there for a while
| unless they decide to go to Germany. We
expect to leave here now about Tuesday. |
hope they have no use for in Brest and
decide TO send us right TO the states.
orvey Jerman, Motor Truck Co. az. All
From Private A. E. DANES. Co. L.. 55th
Inf. France. to his grandmother. Mrs. 5. K.
Curry. NiroQua.l
Pagncy LaBlaneh Call. Mothers Day.
Dear Grandmother: We were all asked 20
write TO our mother today so | am writing to
you. | have sent you several cards iateS,
some very nice views of the Alps and nope
they have all reached you by this time L
| SIN fine and real anxious to get home soon
think will be travelling on the water
before long: We have orders 10 ieaNt HSAS the
i4th for LeManyo and that's towards the sea
port II look, very good. We stood inspect
ion and passed review for General Pershlng
Friday. He told as we would be sailing Ter
| home at very early date Germany mas
got the peace terms now and II she signs, II
| may not be long before nearly all the boys
| will be home. The weather Is hne mere now
and France is really beautiful country when
the sun shines. The fruit trees are an IN
blossom and the side hills are all ~hite
with blossoms and the birds seem TO have
come to life for the air Is full OF music
These nice DAYS, If | had some paints and a
little time would like to try and make pic
ture Of some of the pretty spots get 60
read the Censor quite often. of course IT'S oto
when we get il but il locks good and makes
one feel that he would like to be there to ger
enc oftener.
Keep the home fields earning,
Keep the home fires burning,
For the boys are returning
From Ger seas" far away.
Like pigeons they are honling
From the lands where they've oeeh
roaming
| And our cash we have been ioanlng
To help them on their way.
Mrs. F. NJ. Towner and Mrs. L.
lC. Boyle ere receiving q visit from
their sister. Mrs. Arthur Hiooaru OF
| Minneapolis.