Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-06-19
LOSES EYE WHILE
in GERMANY
ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE AT
WORK AND NOT DURING A
BATTLE AS REPORTED

Ed Johnson, one of the Johnson
twins, sons of Mr.. and Mrs. August
Johnson, has lost the sight of one
eye and some time ago wrote his
parents that the thought he would be
totany blind. Edward was working
in the kitchen of one of the camps
and while washing dishes the tine OF
fork struck him in the eye. He
was given medical attention and for
while it looked as though the eye
could be saved. However, his brother
has just written home telling of the
accident. His letter follows:
Helgert, Ger, May IT, 1919.
Dear Brother:-This is Saturday
afternoon and l am going to take my
old pencil between my fingers, sit
down on a chair by the table and try
to answer your most welcome letter
received from you folks last night.
Well, how are all of you. We are
both well. Brother Ed came back
to the outfit last night. but today he
was sent on detached service. Guess
he is going to be M. p. for few
weeks. am sorry to say that he is
blind in his left eye. It's too bad
for the boy, but you see what the ar
dier's loss is the rich mans gain so
that is the way the world runs. You
folks, especially Dora, have my deep
est sympathy over the loss of your
mother and mother-in-law, but you
know the big book says prepare to die
for thou might be next, and we all
know our death is coming some day.
Am glad all the children were home
before she passed away. 1t seems
to me like it will not be the same old
world when / get home, so many
people are dying or getting married
and lots of the boys that sailed across
the ocean to fight will never come
back, but will sleep in the foreign
country of France. can hardly be-
lieve so many things have happened
around home since we left. sure
long for the day to come when can
be a civilian again, but as long as
our country calls for me feel it Is
my duty to make the best of it. Well,
we will take the bright side of life for
while. So your old red COW had
a calf? Ha! hal Does Billy Grif-
fifth want to buy it? You ask him
some day and see. I suppose you
call it granddad? 1t is a nice day
here today. We had truck inspec-
ton this morning at 900 O'Clock,
billet inspection at ten and rifle in
spection at eleven and / am on guard
tonight and tomorrow, Sunday.
That's tough, and by golly saw our
cousin, Martin Hade yesterday.
was hauling rocks over by the 18th
Infantry and they were all lined up
for a big parade so asked one boy
what company he was in and he said
Company X and l asked him for a
boy by the name of Hade. He says
he stands right there. He was only
about five feet from me and we sure
were glad to see each other. only
got to talk TO him couple Of min
utes as they had to go. He thought
il so funny we boys were truck
drivers. believe the army made
man out of him as he did not seem to
be the same lad he was in civilian
life. ! guess he went over the top a
time or two, but our conversation
was so short that mad no time TO in
quire. Just got to say hello and
goodbye and good luck. II We
happen to go over there agin will try
and get a longer talk with him. Ed
also saw cousin Eddie Backlund in
Coblenz, but he did not get to talk to
him as he was driving truck. So
you plowed the corn ground? It's
sure good of you. Maybe we will be
home in time to pick it, but l doubt
it. They say our division is the last
to go back. That sure isn't using
the boys right, is it? Suppose dad
had a good sale. We got the cat
alogues all right and got long letter
from Jeff last night. So our old
sows have rs little pigsg That Is
pretty good. / am about out OF
anything to write and could tell you
lots of things IL I could only talk to
you. How are your thoroughbred
hogs? / hope they are all right.
How are your boys? l suppose they
are growing like weeds. When you
see the folks tell them said hello. I
wrote to mother a few days ago.
Write whenever you have time as
letters from home are so much COM
pany and I guess we will be watch
ing the Rhine for agood while yet, SO
will close with love to all from your
ALBERT JOHNSON.