The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-01-30
Vigil Of Five Months is
Broken When Letter Ar
rived From KenOsha
Private Today.
WITH ARMY OF OCCUPATION
Division in Which He Served Was
Twice Cited for Bravery--Lack Of
Opportunity and Of Paper Made
Letters Home Impossible.


the home of John Rock on Chicago
fstreet this morning when, after wait
of more than five months, Mrs. Rock
received letter bringing the glad news
that her son, Harold Rock, who has
been serving with the American forces
in Germany was safe. The last word
from Rock had come at the end Of
August. He had been writing letters
home regularly but all at once the let
| ters ceased coming and the members
of the family had been greatly alarmed
over the fact that they had heard
nothing from him. An appeal was
made to the war department. and in
answer to it message was received
on Monday stating that the official
records of the department. failed to
give any information in regard to
Private Rock other than that he was
supposed to be with his battery
Battery F Of the 18th Field Artillery
somewhere with the army of occupa-
tion in Germany. Then the letter from
the young man came this morning. 1t
had been written on December 10th but
delays in the mails had prevented it
from being mailed until December goth.
In his letter young Rock declared
that it was not his fault that he had
not kept in touch with the folks at.
home. 1We have been hiking every
day." he writes, "and we hardly ever
get in until after dark and then there
is no time for writing and even if we
wanted to write there is no paper. We
have not been near any Red Cross sta
ton or Y. NJ. G. A."
Young Rock then details at some
length the journey of the army of oc-
cupation into Germany and the wonder
full trip along the Rhine. He declares
that the men in his battery have no
idea how long they will remain in Ger
many but that they expect to remain
in service until the peace terms are
finally signed. He joins in declaring
that the people of Germany are treat
ing the American soldiers with every
consideration. Rock declares that he
started in the war driving team on
piece but later was changed to a
cannoner He is now driving four live
escort wagons. He sent the news that
Arthur Bedore of Kenosha had been
sent to the hospital two months before
his letter was written and he had not
returned to the battery.
Young Rock has no regret for his
army service and he declares that the
hardships he has experienced have been
more compensated for by the wonderful
experiences he has had and the lnowl-
edge that he has done his part in
great movement to make the world a
better place a live in.
Private Rock is brother of former
police officer, Charles Rock, who is now
with the American forces in Russia.
He landed at Bsest on May 30th of
last year and for time lived at the
famous Pontagan Barracks which were
built by Napoleon. Later he went to
Camp DeSouge, near Bordeaux for the
training for service in the front line.
He was one of the first Kenosha men
to go to the famous -Thierry
after the Germans had been driven
out Later he was on the front with
the Fourth Division in almost constant
battles with the Germans. The Fourth
Division was cited for bravery. Pri-
vate Rock gives wonderful qescrip-
ton of the ruined cities of France
which he passed through in his journeys
from front to front. He was at Pretz
and at Mt. Mihieland in the Argonne
woods. He was with the army along
the Meuse when the order to cease hos
tilities came on November 11th The
division and the thirteen battalion was
again cited for bravery after its fight
ing along the Mouse.
The letters which have come from
Private Rock today have brought new
hope to number Of Kenosha mothers
who have been waiting anxiously for
months from some word of boys serv-
ing with the army of occupation.