Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-05-07


hurt. IL sure was some place! And the
coolies? They went wild. simply wild over me.
We couldn't help but get them the way we
lived. Then W went back in service again.
was an acting runner. God, Some life
Well orders came to get ready for a real scrap
going on up on the western front, so we got
little town waiting for train to come which
didn't appear for two weeks and that probably
a piece of luck, for might have all
been dead. We got up into Argonne Woods.
The last drive, you know Followed 'em up
TO place called Sfronne. Then we got orders
TO fall back east again to Verdun and from
there ahead TO Spineourt. which is near the
Belgium border. My God, what a hikel Ii
you have map of France you can imagine
what we were up against. Rain and mud.
Lost our rolling kitchen. Nothing to eat but
little hard tack and bacon that made us
thirsty. Couldn't drink the water because they
claimed the Germans had poisoned it. All
through the hike my shoes were worn out,
no heels soles. The arch of my left foot
went down and both feet we're a mass of
blisters big as dollars. oh. they were an
awful mess. After we started back they got
bad l could go farther. l tried to keep
up but couldn't. They sent to a hospital
November 25th and l have been here ever
since. My feet better but they still
strapped up. Guess I'll never see my company
But il a good outfit. Every town went
through the civilians hollered THE regularsl
The shock troops cOmingi''
l by your letter you had some time in
Minneapolis on November IL, i shall never
forget the date. just imagine the whole Sixth
Division camping in a valley. Every one had
pitched his dog tent and was permitted TO
have a little ERE out in front, for the first
time We had never been permitted to have
any light after dark. Everybody was boiler
ing and shooting flares into the sky. 1t sure
was swell. but then they got to shooting their
guns and II became dangerous they had to
put a stop to it. They made up guard and
walked post all night with orders to kill any
one who discharged his piece. Gee, / was
sorei After planning on a nigh. of rest TO
have that job wished onto me-
Well. il all over now and. take my word,
I am one of the happiest birds this side of the
pond. 1 have and tried lots for the
have not seen and tried half the hardships
as have some of the boys in other divisions.
Take the old SIND Of Wisconsin and Michigan
Oh. they did some wonderful work. The LIST
division (regularsJ also. If you could see the
line they broke through the 26th
Of September you would understand. just
wire entanglements and trenches for miles
and miles. If you could have seen the towns
north of VerduRl All level With the ground.
Not a soul around. just dead U. 5. boys and
Germans; all cut up BY shfapn1 ne. what sn
with only a wooden cross and his dog tag"
hung on il, his rife and helmet on his grave.
have learned lot in the last few Months
have been away from home. One thing is to
be satisfied and thank God that He spared me.
have had q great time since / came here.
stayed in bed little over tive weeks. Then
hey let me sit up a little. But after ] got
new clothes they could not hold me down
We have a Red Cross hut here where We
pend all day and in the evening have movies
The Red Cross girls make cocoa. candies. In
Tact everything enc wants. They have done |
The greatest werk in the war That's what
think.
Did you ever go and see war pictures l
happened to get in? ! in real one up |
in Spineourt near the Belgium border. Was
helping 10 fix some captured German guns /
with old General Erving hosSipg the job.
i
;lothes OF from October 2ist until November |
18th. That's cleanliness. eh.
Wen. III have to quit fer this tine. When /
get home viii tell you lot more.