Oxford eagle., 1919-01-16
LEVI PETTIS WRITES
FROM OVER THERE >.
Oh ACTIVE SERVICE WITH IHE
AMERICAN ElAPEDlI1ONAk1
FORCE.
Dee r. 1915

Dear Or. Hedleston:
/ often think Of you, and the good
sermons you delivered cut hoiaa,
which makes me want TO write you a
few lines.
am real well, feeling fine and am
in excellent spirits.
Had rather a stormy voyage over,
but am thankful to say no submarines.
Landed in Scotland curing the early
part OF July, and l may mention tnat
Scotland is a very beautiful country,
and / regret the fact that / had not
the opportunity to visit some OF the
/ historical places, when / was SO near,
yet so Tar from them. The next day
We went down to Winchester, rested
there several days, ana then crossed
the Channel leaving from the BRUSH
part OF Southhamlon and landing the
same night in the French part, lie
Havre. May add here, that the
Channel was very rough aud very
cold
! We stayed in France about a month,
Just back of the lines IN tae 5. Q. s.,
the latter part Of August we went up
to the front.
Aly visit relieved the French IN Al
SAGE, and l woke up one morning the
latter part Of August and received
during mess my first taste OF fire, my
battalion being IN reserve was getting
good clubbing from the Bocnes an
uiiery. n ten feet OF mys II and
several men form Tennessee q Boche
shell hit tree 10 inches ia diameter,
ana cut it off as easily as lawn
mower would cut blade Of gfass, and
almost at the same moment another
one MT IN 80 feet OF u and blew q
mole IN the ground that yeu could
throw a good size house IN ana not "a
man 0I u was Lit, wh5h was q
wonder as trees all around us were
scarred anu torn with fragm nts oi
the shells.
Was certainly scared that morning
and also very mad, thought surely at
The BecAe aas giving us tle worse He
Aad, bat learned later tl.t 4as
child play and nothing at al, as the
Boches 300 mm miae sleu simply Nill
remove a Hill and place ii eac-e il
was not Was in the Franco Amen-
can push some time later 3D. Alsacc,
from here We went 70 Argorae the
hottest part of the Weston front
where the Americans made Ia mselyes
+ "a record that Viii never die.
Ia the great battle In Tie Afgonne
forest. the Green American lads met
beat and rou,ed the famous prussan
Guard. The Americans simply cat
them T. pieces. Our artillery was fa1
superior 10 the Boche's, and our gas
would XIII them with their mask On
The Germans we met here .re al
young men. evidently the flow sr OF ta.
Boche's army. Several days ater WA.
ia the drive across the MUGS
The Neuse drive and tie Alsac,
push. was as going 20 q pifl tea az
compared % tae battle tho 4reonne
Argonne was dreadful. tel-'1 e. hide
Gus, foul filthy ard rotten.
= I have very much to D. taa lful fo
and the fact that l,nev you and m,
mother were praying for mo heid m
together as If / had nos know it. BE-
lievc ! would have given aw s. unde
the stra.n.
Am doing very nicely now, am run
: ming a y. II. C. A. for my b ttery fl
: q small French town and Ike m
work fine
] Ike the French fine Il y ar
charming and have lovely manners
e and you know as well as fhat tn
e Celt is very brave. Have D. en- ove
4 the Verdun battle field and oeto-
is a dreadful sight and 81 %. make
e ones heart 90 out 10 the Ere -h.
IS Don't know as yet when / will q
B, home, but hope that Il VIII D soon.
IS The weather here IS lov ly. 81
+ have had no cold weather sine leavin
Nergiun.
ID The rumor is that we will be hon
soon and certainly hope that true
4 Yours Sincerely.
ll SERGT. LEVI NJ. PI TITS.
IS Would Ike to add that an De f0
Il things laid at Mr. Bochc's doc Is tn