The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-05
GAMMILL WRITES
 OF WORK IN FRANCE

Corpl. J. B. Gammill, company c, 4S9th supply train, formerly secretary and treasurer of the Gorman-Gamnill Seed company of Birmingham, is seeing a whole lot of Trance, but is now ready to come home, according to a letter re- received by his brother, J. w Gamrnill of Camp Hill, which reads:
 Foul, France
 December 16, 1918. MT. J. w.. Gammill, Camp Hill, Ala
 bama.
 Dear Wise: Your welcome letter of November F received today. and it is needless to state that I was glad to again hear from you, and to learn that all were well and fine.
 Yes, the war is won, and we are look ing forward with more or less appre. hension to the time when we can re- turn to the good old United States, the best country in the world. Things here are now taking shape in that direction. and l hope those in charge of the home going programme will use all speed pos Slble, and secure every available shin to transport us home in. We have ac- complished the purpose for which we were sent to this country and are now ready to return.
 T notice some articles in the home papers of men of high standing in the states that they think it advisable that the American forces be iteld in France to aid in the reconstruction of this coun- try. This might sound well and good to some of those who have never experf- enced the hardships of war. and who probably at the time of making such statements were filled with a certain sense of patriotism, but I believe I voice the sentiment of the majority of the A. E. F. in saying that the quickest method used in transporting us to America will not be any too fast l am certainly suf- fciently amused with this country. ana believe the remainder of my days can be spent ill the states to good advan. tage.
 T returned Friday night from a sev- eral days trip into what was formerly enemy territory. travelling through LOT raine, Luxemburg and northern France, where the country has suffered most heavily from the war. I spent the night of the 10th at Audun-Le- Roman, a north ern France town, which was completely destroyed by the Germans. Every house without an exception was raZed to the ground by shell fire or being burned l slept with two companions in an olo room, the room of which was formed by the falling upper stores and lodging on the second floor
 From here we drove to Aumetz a small town in Lorraine territory which you will remember has been under Ger man rule since 1871. Here a companion Of mine and myself spent the night ot the llth in house with German fam fly, sleeping in d little room with two former German soldiers. At first I was a little uneasy, but after being with them for short while, all apprehension van ished. We were never treated better in our lives than by this German family The lady of the house even came in after we retired, adjusting the pillow un- der our heads. She refused any pay tor the room.
 This being the night of December II was quite strange coincidence, as it was just exactly one year from my first night spent in the army at Fort Ogle- thorpe, Ga. My companion, who is from New York, happened to enlist exactly the same date as I, and he, of course had the same experience.
 From here we next landed at Esch, a very modern and beautiful town ot about 10000 inhabitants, which is in Luxemburg. In fact I believe this IS the most modern and p-to-d date town Il have seen since leaving the states
 Being in the motor car end of the game, l have travelled quite a bit hav- ing been to Brest, Rouen, Dijon, Lyons, Paris, Chamebry. Tours and a number of other large cities. On some trips we drive for weeks, going almost entirely across France. My base is now at Toul and if you have a map you can readily locate where I am This is near where the fighting ended
 T could write pages of my experiences but shall wait and tell you some in per son. so will close for tonight, wismng you all very Merry Christmas ana a Happy New Year, Sincerely yours,
 JOHN BEN. Corporal J. B. Gammill. No. 7S4220 Con- pany C, 439th supply train, A F. 0. SIS. American expeditionary forces France"