TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DREW COUNTY ADVANCE JANUARY 28, 1919 P. 7
On active service with the American Expeditionary Force, Nov. 24th, Mr. J. W. Bradley,
New Edinburg, Ark.
Dear Father:
Today has been set Colds and Flu Best Treated With Calaside in the A. E. F. as the day every boy in the A. E. F. is to write his "Dad" a letter, and every boy in France seems to be busy writing, so as you have a boy in France you are entitled to a letter.
Well, it is all over and we are mighty glad, and are looking forward with much pleasure to the time we will be shipped home again. We can now write some of our experiences at the front. When we received orders to go to the front the first time, we were billeted in a small French village. We hiked for two days and the last place we stopped was about 1 1-2 miles from the front. The next morning I saw my first shell burst. It was a German shell fired on a truck train carrying up supplies. That night we went in to the line and things from then on were indiscriable. We were shelled day and night. In fact they shelled us all the time but we went over the top the next morning and I saw my first real battle and to my surprise it did not frighten me as I had thought it would. Of course I was excited but had no fear. The Germans saw us coming, they opened up with machine guns and artillery, but we did not stop, just went right on in to things, capturing 1100 the first day. Now, do not misunderstand me, I mean my division captured that many. The Germans fought desperately to the last but when we could get close to one he would throw up his hands and hollow, "Kamrad! Kamrad!" Meaning comrade.
I saw a German chained to a machine gun. They did it to keep him from running. Our artillery killed him before we reached him. For three days we fought them hard. Part of the time it was a hand to hand fight but the fourth day we walked right through them and put them on the run and we advanced 13 miles in two days. My division holds a receipt from the French for over eleven million dollars worth of property captured in the two days.
We got cannons, ammunition, machine guns, and the largest pile of barb wire I ever saw. It simply looked as if it was large enough to fence up the whole world. I had several very narrow escapes but came out without a scratch. I was knocked down by a shell and was unscouscious for a while, but when I came too I went forward and caught my company. They saw me when I fell and thought I was killed. They certainly were glad when I came up with them. I thought about the story grandpa used to tell about thinking he was killed, but in my case we were whipping the Germans and my boys were advancing. In grand dad's his side was losing and he had to run to the rear but I went forward. Well I could write lots more but can tell you the rest when I return. I went to Paris the other day and I certainly did enjoy it. It is a very beautiful country in places, but I wish you could see a battle field in Northern France. No man can imagine how it looks, miles and miles of trenches so thick with shell holes in places, especially, "No Man's Land," that it looks at a distance like a ploughed field. Wire! You can't imagine the amount of barb wire used in this war. I know you want to know when we are coming home. Well, you know just as much about that as I do, but we will be back in due time so tell mama she need not worry now. Wish I could be with you Christmas but as I can't I am wishing all the very best of luck, a merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
With love and best wishes to you, Dad, I am,
Your loving son,
Durwood H. Bradley
Capt. Co. I, 144th Infantry, AEF
NOTES: Durwood Hampton Bradley was born in Wilmar, Arkansas on May 17, 1889.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
On active service with the American Expeditionary Force, Nov. 24th, Mr. J. W. Bradley,
New Edinburg, Ark.
Dear Father:
Today has been set Colds and Flu Best Treated With Calaside in the A. E. F. as the day every boy in the A. E. F. is to write his "Dad" a letter, and every boy in France seems to be busy writing, so as you have a boy in France you are entitled to a letter.
Well, it is all over and we are mighty glad, and are looking forward with much pleasure to the time we will be shipped home again. We can now write some of our experiences at the front. When we received orders to go to the front the first time, we were billeted in a small French village. We hiked for two days and the last place we stopped was about 1 1-2 miles from the front. The next morning I saw my first shell burst. It was a German shell fired on a truck train carrying up supplies. That night we went in to the line and things from then on were indiscriable. We were shelled day and night. In fact they shelled us all the time but we went over the top the next morning and I saw my first real battle and to my surprise it did not frighten me as I had thought it would. Of course I was excited but had no fear. The Germans saw us coming, they opened up with machine guns and artillery, but we did not stop, just went right on in to things, capturing 1100 the first day. Now, do not misunderstand me, I mean my division captured that many. The Germans fought desperately to the last but when we could get close to one he would throw up his hands and hollow, "Kamrad! Kamrad!" Meaning comrade.
I saw a German chained to a machine gun. They did it to keep him from running. Our artillery killed him before we reached him. For three days we fought them hard. Part of the time it was a hand to hand fight but the fourth day we walked right through them and put them on the run and we advanced 13 miles in two days. My division holds a receipt from the French for over eleven million dollars worth of property captured in the two days.
We got cannons, ammunition, machine guns, and the largest pile of barb wire I ever saw. It simply looked as if it was large enough to fence up the whole world. I had several very narrow escapes but came out without a scratch. I was knocked down by a shell and was unscouscious for a while, but when I came too I went forward and caught my company. They saw me when I fell and thought I was killed. They certainly were glad when I came up with them. I thought about the story grandpa used to tell about thinking he was killed, but in my case we were whipping the Germans and my boys were advancing. In grand dad's his side was losing and he had to run to the rear but I went forward. Well I could write lots more but can tell you the rest when I return. I went to Paris the other day and I certainly did enjoy it. It is a very beautiful country in places, but I wish you could see a battle field in Northern France. No man can imagine how it looks, miles and miles of trenches so thick with shell holes in places, especially, "No Man's Land," that it looks at a distance like a ploughed field. Wire! You can't imagine the amount of barb wire used in this war. I know you want to know when we are coming home. Well, you know just as much about that as I do, but we will be back in due time so tell mama she need not worry now. Wish I could be with you Christmas but as I can't I am wishing all the very best of luck, a merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
With love and best wishes to you, Dad, I am,
Your loving son,
Durwood H. Bradley
Capt. Co. I, 144th Infantry, AEF
NOTES: Durwood Hampton Bradley was born in Wilmar, Arkansas on May 17, 1889.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD