The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-22
TYPICAL DOUGHD0Y
 WRITES T0AFR|ENO
Here Is the Answer to the Question: What Did the
 Boys Write About"
of Birmingham, Ala. Statement February 2sth, 1920. pECOTIpCEC

So many people have asked the question:
 What did the boys really write about to each other in France, and after they got back from overseas, and did they really have so much wine over there that the public has been mys- tified by the pro and con replies?
 Here is letter received in Birming ham yesterday, written by one over seas soldier to another. Listen"
 Dear Mac: Today Mir Campbell telephoned your address to me and l was d. glad 10 receive it. for ] have often wondered how I could locate you. l haven't forgotten the many pleasant times we had together in St Afghan. Many night I think of our strolls about the old town, out to the house In Noyers, where we got-the cheese, milk and omelet and over to the little stone house where we bought the old vim blink and rouge D., I'd like to meet you in St. Afghan tonight to talk over old times.
 SihaPS yOu U lAhS lV hDOW w Tat became of Allen and me after you fel- lows hung up the service flag and wished us luck. Well, I'll tell you as briefly as possible.
 We went to that d. little town I've forgotten it's name-where the 165th infantry was billeted. Lived the the life of Riley for & week or SO drilling every morning, swimming ev- cry afternoon, and drinking wine every night.
 Then. one night we got orders tc move, and the next thing we knew we were thrown into the flag end of the battle of the Marne-second muss that began July 15-and, believe me, we had a h--l of a time. I often thought of you and the things you had told me of the, front when Allen and I were ducking high explosives along the Marne. Allen was put into A company and I was placed in l. company of the Thirty-e eighth infantry, Third division
 We were in the Jaulgonne push, jumped over into the scrapping in the vesle sector, where I got bit of gass- ing. I was put on the sick list and not required to do duty for a while, but I hung on with the outfit and got into action again in the St. Mihie1 drive.
 Allen was made a corporal and I was runner. In the Argonne. as we went over Allen got hit in the face with machine gun bullet, but I came through uninjured and got three stripes. Allen was sent to the hos pital and later was sent home I went with the outfit into the army of oc- cupaton. making that devilish hike to the Rhine in command of the runners platoon.
 After a few months in Germany I was transferred to the Stars and Stripes had h-l of sweet time in Paris. and then was shifted to Tours on a publicity job for the welfare sec ton of the s. o. s.
 T was treated with all sorts of consid- eration in Tours and enjoyed Auch lib- erty. much booze and -. In June I was given my release and came home via Marseille and Gibralter. getting my dis charge on Mitchell Field. L. T., the night before the Fourth of July.
 Man. it was good to hop over to New Ycrk and walk Broadway wearing a red chevron on my sleeve and knowing ; was my own man again. And it's been good to live as white, free civilian ever since. But undoubtedly you have good appreciation of the delights of freedom after your experience with the marines, and worse in St. Afghan.
 'sSince coming home I've tried twice, unsuccessfully, to locate Harry Dodge. who lives in Reading, just outside of Boston. but I haven't had any luck as yet
 ...How are all the boys who used to be in the rosterng office? What great old t6Fes we had fighting the roster battle with our battery of typewriters. Re- member the long nights we batted out endless lists, while millions or c- moths gummed up the mechanism and filled our ears? And do you remember those midnight feeds down in the mess shack? And do you still flip-flop at night the way you did when you bunked next to me? D. man. you could turn more scmersaults without falling out of bed between taps and reveille You must be descended from d. race of nocturnal acrobats
 T can't even remember the names of the old gang in that rostering office. but if you. have the name of that fSllow who was in charge under Armbreaker. and if you ever write to him, give Mn my best.
 Little Monte Brine and some of the other coffee coolers wound up in the raii- way mail service, I understand.
 Let me know all about yourself, Mac, old boy, and if we ever are in the same part of the country let's have re- union. If I can find Aliens address at home I'll ship it to you. By the wax. I must dig it out and write to him. as I haven't sent him letter since I landed in the states. "A Awaiting a letter from you, I am, your old buddy