The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-02-05
From the BOYS
omer Murray, Dierdorf, Germany


Mrs. r. W. Bamford has permitted US
to publish the following letter written
by her nephew, Omer Murray, who will
be remembered by many Denison people,
who will be Interested to hear Of his ex-
perienceS. Omer is located in a Ger
man town at. present and this letter
gives very good description of his sur
roundingS
Dierdorf, Germany, Jan. /, 1919.
Dear Aunt Maggie:
L have not had a letter from any of
you in some time but the mail for us
has been such an uncertain proposition
for the past month or so that we feel
lucky if we think there is mail on the
way.
Arrived here on December 18th after
a months trip overland from Dombasle
en-Argonne, France. We pulled into the
latter place one cold rainy night, Sep
TENDER 3Oth, few days after the big
battle had started and remained there
for some long drawn out thirty-eisht
days. Two of us from this office left
on November 9Th for Tours on ,lc
American Special via Chaumont Cam. L.
F.. Hqtrs.) and arrived there two days
later We returned by the way Of Paris
and witnessed the great demonstration
of the French on the evening of No
Vember 10th, one day before the armis-
tice was signed Such sights as that and
Of the following morning will never be
forgotten. When we reached Dombasle
we learned that we had been transferred
to the Sd corps of the Sd army and we
were to be one of the few divisions to
cross the Rhine with the army of occu-
patton. On the way up here we stopped
in Longwy France; Reuland, Luxem-
berg. Echternach, Luxembourg, Speicher,
Rhine and Moselle at Coblenz on the
same day as arrival here. The latter is
certainly beautiful place
Dierdorf is a small village of 1900
north Of Coblenz We get along very
we'll with the people here and so far
there has been no trouble of any kind.
I ca nspeak the language fairly well as
in Dubuque, Iowa. l think the people
here were more than surprised when
they had the first opportunity of seeing
and learning the system of supply of
the American army in the field. Each
day one and sometimes two long trains
pull into this station with food for near
ly thirty thousand men, besides all the
motor truck trains carrying mail, gaso-
line, clothing and nearly everything
ina ginable. 1t is really wonderful and
it is also too bad that the people back
home have not the same opportunity of
seeing the great things that have been
and are being done over here.
We have very comfortable quarters
now and life is much different in gener
al than of a few months ago, although
we are even buster now than while the
day long and did the same on Christmas
day, but we have our leisure hours also.
Was in CoblenZ on Christmas eve and
on Christmas day four of us from the
Office had good dinner in the evening
with a German family. We furnished
the eatables, and they the music, and
we had a very good time.
The papers are full of news regarding
President Wilson and his trip over here
but he has not been up this far yet. |
also crossed the deep blue on the same
ship as he-the George Washington
only l arrived last February. Also had
the pleasure of seeing General Pershing
a short time ago. He and his staff were
here Sunday, December 22d He is GER
tainly a wonderful soldier.
I have feared for some time that
Fanchon might think that | had neglect
ed writing her and | am ASHAMED to
say that I lost her address, with her
new name, some months ago. Remem-
Der me to both she and her husband as
we'll as Uncle Robert, Grace and also
those whom l know in Denison.
/ wish you all a most Happy New
Year and hope it will not be long be-
fore l can be with you again
Your nephew,
L.. Omer Murray.