Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-18

Edmund Tetu, 1872 Northern avenue.
Augusta, has recently received the
following letter from his son, Leo J.
Tetu. Q. NJ. c.. T. O.. III:
Tours, France, Dec. is, 1918.
Dear Dad:
thought I would write YOU a few
health and that l am still in Tours
and am enjoying life the best way
thai know how. The city of Tours
is a very ancient one and it is very
interesting, some of the castles are
very old and if you look up the his
tory of Tours you can see for your
self what kind of a city l am in at
the present time. You will also find
that it is where some of the great
battles were fought in the year of
1900. for instance where Napoleon
won great victory here and in 1910
also. l thought l would tell YOU a
wha, we call No Mans Land. My.
but the Hun is active. He is fighting
for his very life. Soldering now is n
great game. If YOU could see your
boy dashing under the big volley of
fire that the Germans put over YOU
would be some surprised. But 1T
doesn't worry me bit now. l do it
and am not Stacker and stay at
home afraid to look out from under
the covers.
l will tell YOU about my first cy-
perience in with the big Hun. We
went over the top one morning and
4 Ia 70 fny PM loft
were making an advance and in front
of me about 100 yards l happened to
see German sniper rise up out of a
hole, yes shell hole with his helmet
all camouf1aged and l fell towards
another hole but he took shot at me
and just got me. l made the hole all
right. So laid there a.little bit and
he stuck his head up again and VIC
exchanged few shots and l laid as
if l were dead. He believed me dead
for he raised up again but that was
the end of that d Hun. l got him
right between the eyes. J jumped out
of my shell hole and beat it to a First
Aid station and then when l left the
First Aid station about fifty yards.
one of those G.. j. cans as they are
called over here. come over and threw
me up in the air about 100 yards it
seems. l came down. landed on my
back. thought l was all cut up but.
but was just nerved up a little as !
call it. They took me to the first
station and then they sent me to n
base hospital where | woke up after
the effects and found myself in nice
bed and q nice meal waiting for me.
,, There was a nice Red Cross nurse by
my side to help me. believe me. it
was nice to talk to real American
girl. l returned to the front and
there l was assigned to mounted scout
duty. l lasted at this work about
three weeks, then a transfer came
through which placed me g. NJ. c.
camp. l am working in the principal
clerks office. You tell mother that
like it very much. l will tell you n
little more of my experiences, as it is
l am going out for awhile to see n
general who is going to be decorated.
He is in command of the s. o. S. Do
you know Lawyer James Boyle Of Au-
gusta. Well, ] met him in Toul last
April and met him again here last
week. lie asked me II you were sui
in the bakery business, and I said
yes. and that you were still driving.
I met Eddie Grondin here the other
day and I was sure glad to sec him.
and l also met Corbet LcmieuX here
in Tours. Tle lives here in this city
and has been here for quite awhile.
He and l are cumming around to-
gether and we have real good times
Well. Dad, that is about all the
news can give you today. but l will
sure write to You again soon. Give
my love to all the family. and don't
work too hard. You know we only
have one life to live, so take it easy.
From your son.
LEO J. TETC, s9732,
q. NJ. c., a. T. o. III,