The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-03-20
RUrFIN RUsT's LAST LETTER

The following letter was first pub
-lished in the Morganton, N. c..
News Herald, and contains news
which will be read with keen in
tcrest by the many friends of Mr..
Rust.
3O5 NJ. q. Bn., Co. G, A. T.. +,
October 81, 1919.
Dear Mamma and All:
Enclosed are two letters that will
interest you. wrote you about
having been on two fronts" Lor-
rainc and Vcsle, and having left
same. Now | have been on another
and have left 1.-THE Argonne For
est. The first letter was written
during the Vesle drive. The clip
ping can be sworn to by me person.
ally. | was there. The hardest and
llercest of all fighting Of all the
war took place on the bank Of this
small river, Fismes, Vitle sur Way,
Mt. Martin were i'm the midst of il
and | was there. Now that all or
this is history can tell you about
il. Altogether, have been under
shell fire 1903 days. The Lorraine
front was certainly a tame affair. a
rest camp. we call il now Then
we thought il very bad.
The first Jerry shell that came
over our camp nearly frightened
me to death. | heard the explosion
and then the whiz of the shell COM
ing over me. | ran. Don't know
where | had started but I ran just
the same. II landed on a road
crossing 500 yards from me. The
night before gas alarm was sent
down from the front lines. | was
sleeping when il was given. I tore
my tent down and another pext to
me putting my mask on. So about
thirty days on this front kindly got
me used TO hearing a shell come
over.
went into the lines July 9Th,
a. m. but we soon loaded up and
transferred to the Marine (Vesle)
front. We walked a day and then
rode in trucks to within a couple
Of miles behind the Vesle, and few
kilos from ROOsevelts grave. Jerry
had been driven out Of this country
three days before and il was GER
tainly most interesting to see what
he had left behind. CHATEAU Thierry
was knocked to pieces. Riding
through the streets we could see
the finest of furniture, pictures and
curtains. all demolished in different
ways. Dead Dutch men were all
around
Julia sent clippings Of the bravery
around Vile sur Way. Our boys
won in it and let me tell you just
how | was scared and one Of the
reasons why you will see me again
perhaps Il can't speak Of the losses
Of our company. Our captain sent
up a certain number Of picked men.
was to be one. He made us
speech and told us how bad it would
be. About the continued gas, the
snipers and the continued lombard
ment. | felt shaky, believe me.
Well. after dark we loaded up and
it was discovered that there was no
room for the. ammunition, and
would you believe me? was pick
ed TO stay back and guard this stuff.
That is what saved me. They tried
the following three days (Or nights
rather to get me up but failed each
time. A week later we crossed the
Vesle and went on 10 the Aisne
river. Here we had an awful battle.
| was in a creeping barrage and
was most sure my time had come.
Jerry started it at the foot of the
hill and it crept up slowly toward
me, carrying destruction with il.
Bombs were falling from every
where. and what do you think?
The thing stopped right over my
head of the trench and we were
saved. This was my first sight OF
real death and suffering. While |
lay there hugging the ground in the
shallow trench, | promised myself
for the first time land have done
so several times since that if for
tune should see fit TO spare me out
of this war alive, | would forever
sing a song, | would be happy with
nothing The least Of food, clothing
and shelter. All want is my life.
After twenty-four hours of this
we were taken out ami sent bacl;
TO a valley full Of Jerry dugouts-
fine ones. | was so tired and worn
out | stopped on the path down the
line; | thought would steal away
-. IN