The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-03

although al as'ss none were n killed; they ="
OF the narrow escape I had. where
an extra step. breath or any other
thing than that which fate and God
finally had me do--would have meant
death. nor neaT II. maybe possible
captive--these are too numerous TO
relate, for they happened every
4s,s., ~ aa.sszh a4,ps sas ~sS,ss s,sy .
acrnany on the firing Tine
Another thing that you are fooled
by, that lis, the percentage of deaths
and casualties OF modern army.
only about rs per cent of them are
the actual eonbatants. No casual
ties can happen in the ordnance,
quartermasters, or ground aviation,
or any OF these forces that are not
under fre--and they number about
three to every one that really shout
ders a gun.
My experiences truly have been
wonderful but as for ever attempt
ing TO do it again. me for the Q. NJ
or some such thing, as once IL
enough.
Giving you brief outline of how
and when We started, Sunday 7th. al
about O'Clock We left Camp Meade
for Hohoken, landing there about
F., midnight. "layed out" in the yards
using the coaches for heds. We
were unloaded at about In tI1s
morning, and marched through the
various wharves to our own when we
were herer on the L. s. s. America
tthe old Amerikal. We stayed there
in Hohoken for thirty-fiv hours: i'm.
agine the feeling il you can. of prac.
ticaily looking At you home for thai
time. without a chance of getting
there, for even a last word or good
bye. and a trip ahead OF you with sc
many reriis TN store. and the grim
percentage OF not returning at all
try 10 place yourself that way.
Beginning Of the Trip.
At six ten in the evening of July
9th, we started 70 tho tune OF Good.
bye Broadway. Hello France" over
There" and the national anthem. Al
six-thtrty we were along side of tbs
Statue of of Liberty. and guess Just
as you were sitting yourselves dowr
to the dinner table. we picked ND the
balance OF our feet right in the
outer waters Of our own Gravesenf
Bay; there were four other trans.
ports in our feet.
Nothing nnsual happened aboard
until about midnight OF July 18th
when our boat raumed and sank a
british steamer: l was sleeping or
deck that night. and saw all thai
happened, VIC picked up about ten
OF the crew, but could not get tc
about forty who went down with the
ship; IT was "a terrible sight and ex.
perience.
! at about o'clock on the night OF
Thursday. July 18th. tSylvan's
+ birthday. we landed at Brest, ar
ancient. tumbled down looking city
and hiked about eight miles to the
outskirts of the town, up hills as baG
as the Palisades.
/ There we pitched tents and slep
on ,he wet and muddy ground unit
Sunday. July 81, when We entraine d
ard about midnight OF July "a fount
is in the village Of Couroelles pam
biguy, in the department Of the Marine
. That was our training area and w
remained there until September 3
Our schedui" there was terrific, as
have already written you---up at 5 an,
continuous work until In the after
noon.
manned at the front, and in remember
ing dates. three birthdays in our tam
lily help me, as you will notice In line
that follow.
AT about o'clock in the morning c
Septem Der 10. Toad's birthday, we er
tered the reserve trenches tthird line
of what was later our sector to no
over in the famous drive of Septeu
Der &c
Al about midnight of September l.
Ico's birthday, We entered the fror
line trenches that you all heard s
much about--not heard, but read
and take it from me your iNadin