TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE SPETEMBER 10, 1918 P 8
My unit captured some prisoners recently and they were very much surprised that we did not scalp them. The officers tell them that the Americans scalp all the Germans they___.
There were four beautiful aeroplane fights over our heads today and I know of one Boche that was brought down. He was wounded in the head, but landed his plane safely and some French soldiers grabbed him and put him in a house. The French locked the door for fear the Americans would kill him. The Americans broke in and the Hun yelled: “No kill! No kill!” But of course our men did not harm him.
The place where I am sleeping now is surrounded by our batteries. They shoot all the time, but we sleep on just the same. I recently visited the gun pit of one of the famous long-range guns. It had quite a foundation. I was informed today that I will be given a Ford truck to help out in moving supplies. It will be a wonderful help.
This moving business keeps me so busy that I haven’t much time to write, keeping up with the Germans right now is a big job. He has been going so fast today that we haven’t been able to keep up with him. This is a busy place. I went back about five miles this afternoon and there was a continuous stream of troops and transportation vehicles. Dead horses and men were seen several times along the road. I hear that Soissons was taken today. If so, good-bye Germany, for her part in France. We can’t stop now until we reach the Rhine. The weather here is cool, but quite a bit of rain and, with the shell holes, the roads have gotten very bad. The Germans are leaving lots of ammunition behind, but all the houses and towns are wrecked. It is an awful sight. Photographs cannot tell the tale. It takes the real experience.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Captain John Lee Autrey to his father, Dr. J. R. Autrey. He was born on October 26, 1892 in Columbus, Arkansas and died on September 29, 1966 in Scottsdale, Arizona. He served as the supply officer for the 58th, Infantry. He is buried in the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Colonel US Army serving in World War 1 and World War II.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
My unit captured some prisoners recently and they were very much surprised that we did not scalp them. The officers tell them that the Americans scalp all the Germans they___.
There were four beautiful aeroplane fights over our heads today and I know of one Boche that was brought down. He was wounded in the head, but landed his plane safely and some French soldiers grabbed him and put him in a house. The French locked the door for fear the Americans would kill him. The Americans broke in and the Hun yelled: “No kill! No kill!” But of course our men did not harm him.
The place where I am sleeping now is surrounded by our batteries. They shoot all the time, but we sleep on just the same. I recently visited the gun pit of one of the famous long-range guns. It had quite a foundation. I was informed today that I will be given a Ford truck to help out in moving supplies. It will be a wonderful help.
This moving business keeps me so busy that I haven’t much time to write, keeping up with the Germans right now is a big job. He has been going so fast today that we haven’t been able to keep up with him. This is a busy place. I went back about five miles this afternoon and there was a continuous stream of troops and transportation vehicles. Dead horses and men were seen several times along the road. I hear that Soissons was taken today. If so, good-bye Germany, for her part in France. We can’t stop now until we reach the Rhine. The weather here is cool, but quite a bit of rain and, with the shell holes, the roads have gotten very bad. The Germans are leaving lots of ammunition behind, but all the houses and towns are wrecked. It is an awful sight. Photographs cannot tell the tale. It takes the real experience.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by Captain John Lee Autrey to his father, Dr. J. R. Autrey. He was born on October 26, 1892 in Columbus, Arkansas and died on September 29, 1966 in Scottsdale, Arizona. He served as the supply officer for the 58th, Infantry. He is buried in the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Colonel US Army serving in World War 1 and World War II.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT