The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-02-06
NEW STORIES Of
SOLDIERS ABROAD
FROM ONE OF THE MARINES WHO
HELPED TO STEM THE BIG
GERMAN ADVANCE
TWO BRO0NNGS BOYS N FAMOUS UNIT
Interesting Story And Description OF
Life In The American Army
Schools In. France

|. A. Taylor has received the follow
ing interesting letter from Hilman Al
rick, now in Germany. He was wound
ed n spent a month in the hospital.
but is well again and with his com
pany. the headquarters company of the
Fifth Marine regiment. Elmer Ken
nard is also in this regiment and II Is
the n that made the big fight at
Chateau Thierry, and was mentioned
in general orders of the French army
and afterward had the French war
cross conferred on them as a regi-
ment. Such a distinction is only con-
ferred when the service rendered by
a unit is considered of the highest
importance. to the success Of military
plans:
Altweid. Germany. Jan. 10, 1919
Friend Taylor: Well how's every
thing in the old berg? Haven't heard
from anyone for nearly five months.
| guess you all think we will be home
before a letter can reach us over here.
If we are 1t will be a new One on me
| don't think there is much chance
Of getting home before late spring
now, that we are up here in Ger.
many. I'm getting a bit sick of this
game and sure hope to be back in
civilian clothes by the time the grass
is green.
just got back to my outfit a few
days ago-was in the hospital a month
from being gassed and just before
Christmas had a slight attack of the
"fu," but I'm feeling about as good
as ever now. l met a bunch of the
boys back in France-Bob Matheney,
Pultz. Hawley and Salisbury, also
bumped into Roy Simmons. 1t sure
was great to meet some OF the old
gang. Elmer came back from the
hospital last night. so we are togeth-
err once more. The last front we were
on was a rip-terror. l thought sure
I'D never see old Brookings again, but
we rave the HINES h until they
finally had to kamarad or beat It for
Berlin. My bunkie and | were caught
between two machine guns and had
to lay in a she'll hole until dark before
we could get away. Every time we
would lift our heads to take a look
they would give us a shower OF hot
lead. My bunkie was killed the next
day BY a high explosive shell, making
a direct hit.
I'm sure glad the thing Is over, it's
a nerve racking game and a person
sure loses pounds when he has to
stick on the lines for a couple weeks
at a time.
| had a nice trip coming up here
from France; stopped a few days in
Metz and from there | went to Cob
lenz, a larger city on the Rhine, also
stayed there and visited some of the
most important places, such as one
OF the kaiser's summer homes and
numerous old castles. You ought to
hear me sling this Dutch lingo. I'll
be a regular interpreter when get
back. The only thing Is we are not
allowed to talk to them here so it
doesn't do me much good. We spent
the holidays rather quiet back in
France, not much doing only we put
on a little party Christmas eve at a
French home. and | danced my first
dance with the Madamoselle. al
We'll | must close and go get my
beans. Hoping you are all OK. and
that we can soon get back there to
entertain you in the cigar store, as
ever, Hilman.
Headquarters Co, 5th Regt.
IL g NJ e.