Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-02-05
PVT. CRoMEn 1sBELL WRITES
TO Member Local Board-Tells Of
Trip and Service.


Local Board for Oconee, has received
the following letter from Private
CrOmer Isbell, who tolls something
OF his trip overseas, Of his COM
lades, and OF mis- own service in
France.
Private isbcll's Letter.
January 2, 1919.
Dresden A. Smith, Oconee County,
south Carolinu-Dcar Sir:
| suppose that you at the Walhal-
where some OF the Oconee boys arc
and what they are doing. AS you
know, Giles Franklin, Brown Tai
nadgc, d. Marett. Homer Richard
Boggs and left Walhalla July 1st,
1918, and went to South Carolina
University. We received eight
weeks training in this school. Tai
madge Marett studied the carpen-
ter's trade and Giles Brown and
Richard Boggs studied concrete mix
ing, while l studied automobile
mechanical work and truck driving.
We four were separated on the
28th Of September, and Boggs and
Brown said they we're expecting to
ne sent 10 Camp Jackson from the
University, but do not know where
Marett went. was sent to Camp
Joseph E. Johnston, Fla, receiving
camp, where received more training
for motor truck driving and was as
signed to Motor Transport Co. 533.
but on account Of having an opera
ton | did not get to go overseas
With my company, as did some OF
the 80 South Carolina boys.
had to wait for my operation, and
my company left before L got stout
enough to 60 back to it. Two or
three days after got out Of the hos
p:tal into a convalescent company
was unfortunate enough to take the
influenza, and / had to go back TO
the hospital again. My fever was
l04 before ! gave up to 60 back. In
all, l spent one month in the base
hospital at Camp J. e. Johnston
while so many were dying with in
tluenza; but, thank God | was allow
cd to get we'll, and now | am as
stout and healthy as ever. was
sent out of the hospital back to De-
velopment Company No. and trans
fcrred to Company 3, a. r. D.,
tautomobile replacement draft, }
which was an overseas organization
and we we're then sent to Camp
October. We're We received al 81
o'N oYol"ea# equipment #Nd on h,
inh 81 Noyrmucr We boarded s
ferry hoar at iioHokcu, # d., an,
We weyc -ruuaItrroI From the g9rry
Goat to the steamship known as the
Northern Pacific. II sure is Il strong
and speedy transport We were on
board this ship while all New Jersey
and New York cities were celebrat-
ing the great victory. About 1900
men on board joined in the celcbra.
tion, and of course everybody re.
)oices because old Glory" waves
over peace-loving and God-fearing
and free people. We are proud that
the L. S. \. has never yet tasted the
hitter cup Of defeat, and long may
old Glory wave over our pcace-lov-
ing nation, united forever.
We sailed the 18th of November
and landed the 22d at Brest, France
This is as pretty Il harbor as ever
"a". lta history can be traced back
many centuries. We rested at Brest
four or five days. and our company
was transferred to Chateau de Loir
TO casual company, and, as usual,
cur bunch Of men was scattered to
the four winds Of France. SO at
last | am left alone in our present
company OF the South Carolina men.
l DO not know now where any OF
them are, and instead OF being a
truck driver | am cook, and the
largest number that / have helped
prepare meals for is about two thou
sand, and the smallest number is
nine men. for whom am now cook
ing at Ncu Chateau, France.
Will go back to my voyage now
ana tell you something about how
The soldier boys fed the fish. or
course you know how to feed them,
100, IT you have ever taken Il very
long voyage. Our ship was very
badly crowded and everybody got
along nicely until abOut two days