The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-04-09
Ray Waters Writes
Will SammOn OF
His Experiences
In France

Writing to Will Sammon IN ahis
city, Ray M. Waters. formerly in the
garage business here, writes from
Brest, France as follows:
Mr.. W. T. Sammon.
Dear Friend:-Once for the first
time since over here I will drop you
few lines.
Have often wondered If you got to
come over or not. Last time I saw
you was at the Y at Camp Shelby
Left there Sept. 10, arrived in
Camp Mills, L. L., the 23rd. There
we Joined our main company-the
18th A. F.
Was only there until Oct. 6>wher
we sailed on the S. S. Lancashire of
Liverpool England Arrived in Liv~
erpool the 18th of October. Was in |
England about week at Camp Cod |
ford. Then to La Harve we were at
rest camp for a few days.
The 3Sth division was used mostly |
for a replacement division.
Later we were on our way to the
front. When out Of Rennier some 40
miles we had wreck in which we
,lost several of our boys.
Had our 3Sth field artillery on the
train ahead of us. They were at a
station. For some reason no signal
was given as to their being there.
Well, the next thing we knew there
was sudden jar, and it being at
night (about 10 p. M we on the
J rear of the long string of box cars
could not tell just what had hap
pened. Everything was quiet for Q
few minutes; then call for medical
aid and soon every one was out and
doing all we could. You can guess
about how things looked around there
} Eleven box cars and our engine all in
one pile. Every car had "a boys in
them and some got out without get
, ting scratch But 81 were killed and
80 some odd were crippled.
Have seen two of the boys here
that were hurt. One had lost his
left foot and the other was still in
the hospital but getting along very
we'll considering his injuries.
D This delayed us for several days.
We were left at a town there where
we stayed until after the armistice
!. was signed.
Wen, we sure did have some time
about then. Plenty of drinks and we
there in a small town where no one
y but our companies. and-say, we
) painted everything red.
- We were in Marseilles in the south
- ern part of France m December and
l spent Christmas there.
* Our work consists of assembling
trucks and touring cars, conveying
them to different parts of France.
Arrived here Jan. for duty, 0p
I ened new motor park here ard W,
sure have put out some work ncrce
I Finished up assembling of all truck
and cars here two weeks ago and nov
we are working driving trucks here
I hauling supplies from docks to tn
I camp, expecting to get relieved 500
so we can come back. Every da
I ships leave for old U. s. A.
~ The transport Great Northern lei
/ here yesterday. report that we wi
! leave soon with a bunch of casual
( and left overs is current. Hope W
4 may get away from this hole soon
I, Can't tell you just about this .plac
I but if you have talked to any on
I from here you know some thin
IL about it.
vi This camp is in very good shaI
1 row, but in November and Decembt
I no one knows unless they were hel
Y 1 JUST hON lllC bO1S helu W llNGs
VI All we can argue now is hon
I questions.
II Hope this letter will find you
home, where all of us over here SUI
III would like to be.
IL l am in best of health and enjo
ing myself the best possible.
vi This is my night out, and it's n
pleasant to ride all night in the ra
and get about in the mud Just
present the sun is shining. The
was heavy frost this morning.
- Feels much like a Florida mornir
- but H. of difference in the t
- places, ha! hal
IS CT We have good officers and the 119
a. T as a whole is all o. K,
owns. Would like to be in Lakeland
Flor day and see how It felt after bel