The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-08-07
From Raymond r. Lewis.
Inly -. 1919.

Dear Mother: I received your
much welcome letter a few days
ago but I've not had time to answer
lit as business is rushing around
here, the brogs have been c%elebrat-
ing ever since the Fourth and the
have got the champs Elsee's boule-
ward decorated from the arch de
triumph to the place a della con-
corde; it is two miles long and is
lined with red, white and blue and
s bIISs, red rel f and W WAITE 9 Tben fn on 0a are
two lines of blue, red and white
lights and two lines of red, white
and blue lights on both sides of the
boulevard and all stores and cha
teaus and business places are dec
Grated in American and French
ment in honor Of the dead that is
about IS, feet high and about a 60
foot base, just beyond the arch de
triumph, then they have two piles
of Boche guns on the other side
of the arch. The Tgeptian monu-
ment is all decorated (there are
place oPi i e" a de la c%oncorde" and n
in New York;. The parade is to be
at 9 O'Clock tomorrow morning. Our
Major has given us two trucks and
they are going to be placed on the
boulevard italians" tonight at II
o'clock with guards on, so we boys
can see the parade tomorrow. We
chow tomorrow morning at S
o'clock SO we can get over early; it
will only take us about 80 minutes
to make the trip but We are going
early to avoid the rush. The Major
said it might mean a court martial
70 for v him. d but he s Sald I He to- st R,r Boys 8
hard boiled bird but when it comes
to fighting for his men he is there
and over. He has taken us all to
shows over in Paris. Lined us up,
got at the head Of the line and when
the doors opened he would shout:
and get us the best Of seats; One
he would shove O. P. (oyerhaul
park off the map and take the seat
reserves for us. Well there was no
blood shed but o. P. got the seats
and nothing more was ever heard
man, red headed, hot tempered, and
a big heart (if a mar gives him a
square, deal); He locked one crew
Of cooks and X. P.'s up the other
day for stealing pork chops out of
the supply room and eating. them,
but yesterday he said I'll give you
duOtucI CllduCc anu Ao l
loose to go to the celebration to-
He also locked up a cap
tain, 1st and End li%eutenants for
ordering the mess sergeant to give
them some, grub out OF the men S
mess. They got two weeks where
the K, P:,s and cooks only got one
h Batf roh it 6 6as" become come "i a day y'e Of
waiting and watching for the or
ders to go home, as every time we
go to Paris we see boys going
through with their packs and to ask
them where they are going. they will
answer with a smile on their face,
we'll leave, as things looked blue,
but it don't worry me as I've made
my mind from now on to make
the best of everything wherever
at and worry about nothing. II
! am home in a month alright, IL It
is five or six. alright. The IS
that we will go to the border when
we hit the states, so don't plan too
much on me going west to live, as it
may be a long time before | can get
out of the army. Well, as | want
to promenade. this evening Il ilttle
I'll have to close. Tell everybody
hello for me and that may see
Write soon and tell me all the news.
I remain your son,
Sgt. Raymond r; Lewis,
M. r. C. 20 Overhaul PIX. No. 702,
800 Repair Unit, Sect: 6,
Group B, A. P. o. TOP.
p. s.. There has never been any
body allowed to pass through the
French Arch de Triumph since 4
tomorrow will be the first
troops to pass through since
Frances downfall in rs. They, have
always had big chains around it.
You can see the chains in the pic
they will pass through in the
direction of the arrow; it is some