The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-08
Alzingen, Luxemburg, Dec. II.
My Dearest Folks:

Well, here we are in LuXe,nburs
with the army Of occupation, attach
ed to the 3Srd Division. We have
seen little of Canada, a good deal
OF England, most all of France, and
now we are taking in this country
then Germany is to follow. We have
also been in q little Of Lorraine and
at one time were only one mile from
; the Belgian border.
How * that for travelling? First.
we had the French language to con-
tend with, and now we have to SPEAK
German Then we've had English
money. French money, and now
we're using German money. LuXe1h-
burg is certainly much better Off than
any country we have been III so fa'-
There seems to be plenty to eat every
where. and the cities have nice stores
full Of good things, but the prices are
awfully high We can take 4 cake OF
soap, or a slice OF our white bread
and get almost any price we ask Tor
it Soap sells for eight marks ($2.0o
in our money! and very small cake
it is OF course the people are cHaZy
over the American soldiers, because
they spend so much money and don
mind paying big prices for things
We are now about five miles rom
Luxembourg city. but expect to move
on into Germany in few days. Al
!, though we seem to be getting way
from horle instead of nearer. l be'ieve
that the road home IS just as near
through Germany. as it is from
France. And think Of the honor That
has been given us, to be III the army
Of occupation.
We spent all our time on the wes-
tern front, fighting with the first
american army. After the arnist;ce
we were assigned to the second army
Then we were selected for the army
oi OCCUPATION and put into the third
army. al, fighting divisions. and tn
best in the world. In the st M;h!ef
fight. we were with the 39tb division.
Then we went to the Argonne front
and fought with the 32nd and 37th
division, also the 10th. In our last
drive along the Meuse river for Seian
we We're with the 33rd division, AID
have been with them ever since N
fact. our brigade. the 50th artillery
brigade. Of which we are Q part. have
heen used as shock troops .eve' Since
we reached the front. WheneE'e"
big drive came off we We're sent .
that front. Our brigade made fine
reputation over here and IS said d DC
one of the best in the army. 1t con-
sists Of the 113th, l14th and 1tata
regiments Of artillery. 105th trench
= ortar battery. and the 105th am
.,,unition train. Our infantry was or
the British front az the time, and yol
already know the reputation they
made.
I don't think I ever told yo: all
that I was relieved OF company Clerk.
at my own request. about NJ nth
before we left Camp Sewer. ssfte1
St Pierre enlisted in the cor2pan.-
could not bear 70 be doing office x oril. I!
while he was doing full duty IS sol /
der, so + asked the ca ptain to re-
lieve me and put me in the line. |
which he did after long while. So /
you see, tlat have done my ,juty !
over here nth the other fellows. St /
Pierre and I We're never separated
over here except for about week |!
or ten days, when l was put OF an |
ammunition dump at the front in the
Argonne fighting. In that time was
continually under shell fire. and work |
cd day and night carrying up am
munition. Some of our trucks were
hit with shrapnel. but none of the
fellows were hurt. Sometimes when
7 think of it, cannot understand
why we were not all killed.
was appointed sergeant on Cc-
tober 18th. almost q month before the
arnlistice was signed. The last letter
we received from YOU was dated No
venber 9Th Well it is getting late. :
so I must close here. With worlds Of
1--we to you all, am your devoted son, !
David. /