TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ASHLEY COUNTY EAGLE JANUARY 30, 1919 P. 1
When I last wrote you I was in a small town by the name of Bussany. Had just come from the front, where I was under shell fire for six weeks. We received orders there to go to another front, in the Argonne forest. Probably you have read quite a bit of the drive made in that sector, for it was the one that proved fatal to the Huns. At the time we arrived in that sector the big drive was just being made, so we began our hike to overtake the enemy, and it was a hike, too, for the American forces were going from ten to twelve miles a day. At the same time we were hiking, we were working, for there was so much traffic that the roads got in a very bad condition. There were five Divisions trying to go to the front line at the same time. The Hun was being pushed so hard that he did not have time to bury the dead, and we passed many men and horses dead on the road side. The same time the Americans were making their drive, the English and French were also making drives. Just a day or two after we were ordered back the armistice was signed, and we were ordered to go into Gemany as occupation troops, but for some unknown reason we were stopped again, after hiking for two weeks continuously. We spent three days blowing up mines and explosives left by the enemy, that would be dangerous in the future; though at that halt I was unable to mail a letter. On Thursday, the 19th, we got or-ders to make a march of 150 miles, which proved to be some distance before we finished it. Altogether within five weeks, we marched 250 miles. While we were camping in Grandpre one night the town was bombed by an enemy airplane, killing one major, five enlisted men, and wounding several others. I have just seen in the papers that some of the boys have gone back to the states and others are ready to leave the ports of embarkation. I do not know when I will have an opportunity of going back, but I would certainly like to go at any time. I can hear all kids of rumors about leaving, but cannot put any confidence in any of them.
NOTES: This letter was written by Carroll Erby Bryd to his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. W. A. Byrd of Parkdale, Arkansas. The letter was dated December 10 from France. It was the first letter they had received since October 24. Byrd was born on November 14, 1894 and died on September 28, 1980. He is buried in the Hamburg Cemetery in Hamburg, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY
When I last wrote you I was in a small town by the name of Bussany. Had just come from the front, where I was under shell fire for six weeks. We received orders there to go to another front, in the Argonne forest. Probably you have read quite a bit of the drive made in that sector, for it was the one that proved fatal to the Huns. At the time we arrived in that sector the big drive was just being made, so we began our hike to overtake the enemy, and it was a hike, too, for the American forces were going from ten to twelve miles a day. At the same time we were hiking, we were working, for there was so much traffic that the roads got in a very bad condition. There were five Divisions trying to go to the front line at the same time. The Hun was being pushed so hard that he did not have time to bury the dead, and we passed many men and horses dead on the road side. The same time the Americans were making their drive, the English and French were also making drives. Just a day or two after we were ordered back the armistice was signed, and we were ordered to go into Gemany as occupation troops, but for some unknown reason we were stopped again, after hiking for two weeks continuously. We spent three days blowing up mines and explosives left by the enemy, that would be dangerous in the future; though at that halt I was unable to mail a letter. On Thursday, the 19th, we got or-ders to make a march of 150 miles, which proved to be some distance before we finished it. Altogether within five weeks, we marched 250 miles. While we were camping in Grandpre one night the town was bombed by an enemy airplane, killing one major, five enlisted men, and wounding several others. I have just seen in the papers that some of the boys have gone back to the states and others are ready to leave the ports of embarkation. I do not know when I will have an opportunity of going back, but I would certainly like to go at any time. I can hear all kids of rumors about leaving, but cannot put any confidence in any of them.
NOTES: This letter was written by Carroll Erby Bryd to his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. W. A. Byrd of Parkdale, Arkansas. The letter was dated December 10 from France. It was the first letter they had received since October 24. Byrd was born on November 14, 1894 and died on September 28, 1980. He is buried in the Hamburg Cemetery in Hamburg, Arkansas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY