TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER MAY 7, 1919, P. 2
Mamer, Luxemboug, Germany.
Mrs. Fisher Baker.
Dear sister:
Your letter just read and it always bring much love to read a letter from the dear old U. S. A.
I am in the best of health.
Since I have never told you much about this country and some of my experiences. I will give you a few sketches of what has come to me since April 1, 1918.
On the 5th of April 1918, the 6th Infantry boarded the train at Chicamauga, Ga., for our over seas duties. We landed on the 8th and sailed on the 10th from New York.
After being out two or three days there certainly were some sick boys. I was lucky, didn’t get sick at all. I worked in the kitchen or K. P. all the way over. We reached land on the 22nd and on the following morning we walked out on French soil. As we hiked to some French barracks all along the way poor French children would run along besides the boys begging for pennies and tobacco.
We stayed at these barracks two nights and on the 25th we hiked back to the station and boarded a little French train and took a ride. We reached our destination on the 27th and hiked about 10 kilometers from the station to a little town by the name of Mason. There we got good barns to sleep in which was the place where most of the soldiers slept while in France. On May 4th we moved to a little town by the name of Nully and remained there till the 29th. There we drew our machine guns and carts, but no horses to pull the carts. We made another 20 kilometers hike, this time drawing our carts by hand. We reached the rail road and happen to get “side door” Pulman sleepers. They were marked “8 cheareau or 40 horses,” that meant 8 horses or 40 men. We arrived at a small town June 1st and remained there till the 14th. We took train again and landed at Letrally. We pulled those 24 carts about 10 kilometers and on the 19th we drew our horses and started to the front. We reached the trenches on the 22nd and relieved the French that night. That was my first experience of real war. We were in a cellar of an old torn down house and remained there about 20 days. Two shells struck the house while we were there.
The 12th of July we moved to another place and remained there till Aug. 22nd. When we were relieved and went back for a few days rest. On Sept. 6th, we started for the front again, we reached it and went over the top on the 12th, reaching our objective in due time and doing good work. We remained on the front till the 17th with but little to eat and barely any water at all. We were relieved for a few days and went back reinforced by receiving 40 men. The 4th of October we started for the front again and reached our place to go over from on the 13th, and went over again on the 14th, we had a lot of casualties. We remained on the front till the armistice was signed.
Six days after we started for Germany, we hiked steadly, stopping at Spincourt for rest about 5 days, then we hiked on into Germany, landing Dec. 1 t., at Tier late in the evening. We stayed in German barracks then till the 7th of February. Later we came to this place. We have a good place to stay with good beds to sleep on.
I will close with love and best wishes to all.
Russel O. Beene.
M. G. Co., 6th. Inf. A. E. F.
A.P. O. 745.
NOTES: Russell Owen Beene was born at Magnolia. Columbia County, June 18, 1890 and died at Magnolia, January 15, 1970. He is buried Magnolia Memorial Park, Magnolia. He was medium height and build with brown eyes and hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.
Mamer, Luxemboug, Germany.
Mrs. Fisher Baker.
Dear sister:
Your letter just read and it always bring much love to read a letter from the dear old U. S. A.
I am in the best of health.
Since I have never told you much about this country and some of my experiences. I will give you a few sketches of what has come to me since April 1, 1918.
On the 5th of April 1918, the 6th Infantry boarded the train at Chicamauga, Ga., for our over seas duties. We landed on the 8th and sailed on the 10th from New York.
After being out two or three days there certainly were some sick boys. I was lucky, didn’t get sick at all. I worked in the kitchen or K. P. all the way over. We reached land on the 22nd and on the following morning we walked out on French soil. As we hiked to some French barracks all along the way poor French children would run along besides the boys begging for pennies and tobacco.
We stayed at these barracks two nights and on the 25th we hiked back to the station and boarded a little French train and took a ride. We reached our destination on the 27th and hiked about 10 kilometers from the station to a little town by the name of Mason. There we got good barns to sleep in which was the place where most of the soldiers slept while in France. On May 4th we moved to a little town by the name of Nully and remained there till the 29th. There we drew our machine guns and carts, but no horses to pull the carts. We made another 20 kilometers hike, this time drawing our carts by hand. We reached the rail road and happen to get “side door” Pulman sleepers. They were marked “8 cheareau or 40 horses,” that meant 8 horses or 40 men. We arrived at a small town June 1st and remained there till the 14th. We took train again and landed at Letrally. We pulled those 24 carts about 10 kilometers and on the 19th we drew our horses and started to the front. We reached the trenches on the 22nd and relieved the French that night. That was my first experience of real war. We were in a cellar of an old torn down house and remained there about 20 days. Two shells struck the house while we were there.
The 12th of July we moved to another place and remained there till Aug. 22nd. When we were relieved and went back for a few days rest. On Sept. 6th, we started for the front again, we reached it and went over the top on the 12th, reaching our objective in due time and doing good work. We remained on the front till the 17th with but little to eat and barely any water at all. We were relieved for a few days and went back reinforced by receiving 40 men. The 4th of October we started for the front again and reached our place to go over from on the 13th, and went over again on the 14th, we had a lot of casualties. We remained on the front till the armistice was signed.
Six days after we started for Germany, we hiked steadly, stopping at Spincourt for rest about 5 days, then we hiked on into Germany, landing Dec. 1 t., at Tier late in the evening. We stayed in German barracks then till the 7th of February. Later we came to this place. We have a good place to stay with good beds to sleep on.
I will close with love and best wishes to all.
Russel O. Beene.
M. G. Co., 6th. Inf. A. E. F.
A.P. O. 745.
NOTES: Russell Owen Beene was born at Magnolia. Columbia County, June 18, 1890 and died at Magnolia, January 15, 1970. He is buried Magnolia Memorial Park, Magnolia. He was medium height and build with brown eyes and hair.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT.