Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-02-07

George Hamilton, blacksmith on the
U. S. S. Panther, writes his mother
two letters recently. The first was
written Dec. 9th, at Cardiff, Wales,
and in part is as follows: t q
Cardiff is g. dandy town and the
people sure treat fellow right. They
are real friendly and glad to see Us.
All the kids on the street sing ''The
Ysnks are Coming" (Over, There
All the music here is American music.
Went to q swell dance last night and
en- invited to another one New Year 8
eve so life over here in Wales probably
will not be as dead as it was in France.
don't believe We shall be over here
very much longer, maybe q month OF
six weeks. How many Of the boys are
back home? l don't like the idea Of
being the last one back just because l
was the first one over. All the good
times will be over when I get back and
they hadn't started VIXEN left. - al
ways was unlncky." - c.Ff
The second one was dated Jan. 9th
at Brest, France, and contained the
following: ,.. IT,
Here am back in this country.
was hoping l had seen the last of
France but we pulled into Brest yester-
day morning. Don't know how long
we shall stay here. ~
First thing l want tc do is to thank
you for the dandy Xmas package. ]
received i. New Years and it sure was
great. Only one jar was broke, =
everything else was fine. The boys
were just crazy about that raspberry
Jam, and that cake sure was great;
guess more than one fellow made mer-
ry over that package as all the boys
(blacksmiths. and there are nine Of us)
all said to be sure and send their
thanks to you. = -. '..-.
sure had one great time in Cardiff.
I was there for Xmas and New Years
and it sure was joyous ten days,
dances, parties and shows and best Of
all, We had . chance to talk English.
cabled for some money bnt % i
didn't come bsfore l left Cardiff I or.
dered it to 30 returned home. I want
| "a to get to London but didn't get the
chance.
There is mo sickness over here "a
speak Of. I'm feeling fine, myself.
Maybe Ne shall GO % BslGiam from
iAsss hnk I danbtit. Am going te tn
IfosKet home . Soon . I can becausesl
want to get bsck to work.
Elmer Eye. Of Co. A. 346th NJ. G.
Bn. under date of Dec. q, while at
La Ferte, Bernard. France, in letter
to his mother writes as follows:
I'VE just got here in France from
Belgium after q four days trip ia
motor trucks and believe me it wal
some trip. about $50 miles guess.
Sure saw . lot Of country. Most Of 1t
was untouched in the war; We come
through Paris and several other quite
large cities. Belgium and France can
sure boast good roads. anyway The
main highways are either stone spaved
lor macsdsmized. Belgium 10 quite &
lot different country from France.
Quite . lot of France I've seen is tim
bered and you see very little wood in
| Belgium. I think France 10 good
deal more rosgh, too. Belgium has go'
France beat, though, any way you losa
ut it; at least, think 90. Don't like
the people as we'll anyhow. We are
near this town and was up and looked
it over this afternoon but don't think
much of it. Saw some nest-to-God
American women, though. Y. n. C.
A. workers, guess. They sure look
better to me than these people ovel
here. They have ''Y" down towr
in church; guess they are putting
q movie show on tonight, and most Of
the boys are down there. We got 8
Xmas package from the ''Y' today,
lgum, tobacco, cigars. candy and cigar
cites. Came in good, too. because
was about three thirds out of tobacco
and you cant always get it either, and
God knows white man can't smoke
any tobacco you get of the people here
The u. S. issue isn't enough for me &C
if the "Y" runs out I'm out OF luck.
! We are billeted in . mill here on &
canal, some kind Of -four mill l guess
Seemed almost like home to hear va
ter going over D. dam. This 10 quite Z
lot larger mill. though. than the one
ut home. 1t is Eve stories high, bull
of stone. Everything is built of stone
in this country; haven't seen frame
building since left the U. 81
4 Attorney Joseph Griffin hands US thu
following letter written him by Ma
pie Leaf boy. James Zak, of Co. l.
367th Init. who was one of the wound