The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1919-01-30
w Snlhirrs' 1ettrrs

with nine other men were detail
ed 70 go TO General Headquarters
Fat Chaumont. That night the rest
Of the battalion pulled out. leav-
ing ms there TO catch a train next
day That was the last saw of
most of the old outfit. We left the
afternoon of the 18th. Sgt. BeViei
and myself travelled first class for
a ways. We stopped at Vance
that night for about six hours and
walked around the town. II seem
ed 10 be a nice place. From there
we were slipped into French
troop train of third class coaches.
The French soldiers kept us busy
all night trying TO talk to us. We
passed through Saumer, Tours,
lBlois. Orleans, Mantaiges and
Troyes. and were supposed to
change at Bolonge for Chaumont
but For the reason none of us could
speak French we were taken past
and when we got so close to the
lines we could hear the guns we
ligtned that some ng was wroA (,
SO we got Off at Joinville and
caught a train back to Chaumont.
We arrived at Chaumont the Goth,
and on the DIST reported for work
in the postal section Of the Stats
tel Department. They were
swamped with mail, and were sure
glad to see us.
Chamnont is where General Per
shing lived, and so could never
tell you what the name Of the
town was. 1t is in the advance
zone. | was able to see the gener-
nj quite often. and once | got into
a movie they were taking of him.
Al the time we arrived at the
office there were three men there
doing the work. The Is of us
handled it until about March,
when we got an increase of about
so men. And it has been growing
ever since, until now we have over
500.
| think it was the 23rd of May
we left Chaumont because of lack
of room and went to Tours, where
we were located in large ware.
house.
The 18th of June we were made
a separate organization from the
Statistical Department, called the
NJ. p. f. s., Military Postal and
Express Service. "
We left Tours for lack of room
and came to Bourges, and now we
are crowded here.
The only time was within the
sound of guns was the few hours
we were in Joinville. At Chau-
mont there were a few aerial
scares, but nothing happened. In
Chaumont at night everything was
kept dark; all the windows had
black shades and there were nc
street lights. Tours being III tbs
S. o. s., they took no precaution
Until I left Tours | had worked
every day and lots of nights with
only Sunday and holiday after
Moons off. Now we get Sunday off
! now have direct charge oi
nearly BOG men, and good chance
of getting a commission. We now
look up and readiness about 100,
900 letters and % rods of pack
ages a day, and need more mer
vet to handle it.
Well, dad, it won't be long now
until | can return home, and may.
be YOU think | won be glad.
We won the scrap, and although
did not get mixed in the actual
fighting. went where | was told
10 90 and did my best to help out
! was probably of more good get.
ting the mail to the men than if
had been in The thick Of it. So
figure have done my share. Il
has not been any fun, ] can tell
you There is not a man among us
WIG would not rather have beer
up at the front than back here
plugging every day in the year
And | know, dad, that you folks