TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SENTINEL RECORD AUGUST 8, 1918 P. 4
Sunday, June 25.
Dear Friend Kel:
Hello there, Harp, I’ve got a canteenfull of red wine and I’m going to drink long life and good luck to the Scotch and Irish. Well, Kel, I sure know what it is to be under heavy fire. I have had my maiden trip into the land of shrapnel, 8-inch, 10-inch and high explosive shells. Our battery has been back here from the front for a week now and it seems very tame and quiet, although hardly a night passes that we are not paid a visit by a Square-head air-buggy. We were caught in a bad fix up at the front and were heavily bombarded for 18 hours. During this time, especially at night, the gas was shot to us, but we were on the lookout for it and all got our gas masks on O.K. Our boys and our big 13-inch guns were sent up to shoot at that big long distance gun that has been shelling Paris. We had Germans on three sides of us, in a sort of horse shoe in the line. This is the first time such big guns have been used up so close in the line, just 4 kilometers from the enemy on one side and 6 on the other. Believe me, Kel, the men that were afraid to die sure show it in their faces when the shells started hissing and screaming from three different directions. I got one small dent in my helmet and a slight touch of gas. However, I am over it already and d---- sorry we were back here instead of shooting 824 pounds of hell over into the Square-heads. The enemy has gained a little ground all along the line, but have lost thousands of men.
They are also yelling their heads off about the way our machines are bombing their country behind the lines. They can’t swallow their own medicine. Many carloads of prisoners have come through here since the last drive, and there are Russians among them; also mostly very young German lads.
Ye Gods, how I would love to have one of those fine hot baths right now. The time is not far off when you will no doubt hear of a big drive being made by our lads. We are getting more numerous every hour and all we are waiting for the big flock of U.S. aircraft and then watch our smoke.
Kel, old top, you people over home will hear them d--- Huns yelling for quarter, and old Harp, there ain’t going to be any quarter, get me. They must be taught a lesson and orders have been given to do by them as they have done by us.
The cook just rang the mess bell and the dash is now on to get a good place in line for ‘seconds.’ Give my regards to the bunch. Will let you know when we leave for the front again. Good luck until next time camrade. Always
Your sincere friend,
PVT. HAL J. CHISHOLM
Battery B, 53rd Artillery, C.A.C., A.E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by Hal J. Chisholm to his Hot Springs friend Fred Kelly.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Sunday, June 25.
Dear Friend Kel:
Hello there, Harp, I’ve got a canteenfull of red wine and I’m going to drink long life and good luck to the Scotch and Irish. Well, Kel, I sure know what it is to be under heavy fire. I have had my maiden trip into the land of shrapnel, 8-inch, 10-inch and high explosive shells. Our battery has been back here from the front for a week now and it seems very tame and quiet, although hardly a night passes that we are not paid a visit by a Square-head air-buggy. We were caught in a bad fix up at the front and were heavily bombarded for 18 hours. During this time, especially at night, the gas was shot to us, but we were on the lookout for it and all got our gas masks on O.K. Our boys and our big 13-inch guns were sent up to shoot at that big long distance gun that has been shelling Paris. We had Germans on three sides of us, in a sort of horse shoe in the line. This is the first time such big guns have been used up so close in the line, just 4 kilometers from the enemy on one side and 6 on the other. Believe me, Kel, the men that were afraid to die sure show it in their faces when the shells started hissing and screaming from three different directions. I got one small dent in my helmet and a slight touch of gas. However, I am over it already and d---- sorry we were back here instead of shooting 824 pounds of hell over into the Square-heads. The enemy has gained a little ground all along the line, but have lost thousands of men.
They are also yelling their heads off about the way our machines are bombing their country behind the lines. They can’t swallow their own medicine. Many carloads of prisoners have come through here since the last drive, and there are Russians among them; also mostly very young German lads.
Ye Gods, how I would love to have one of those fine hot baths right now. The time is not far off when you will no doubt hear of a big drive being made by our lads. We are getting more numerous every hour and all we are waiting for the big flock of U.S. aircraft and then watch our smoke.
Kel, old top, you people over home will hear them d--- Huns yelling for quarter, and old Harp, there ain’t going to be any quarter, get me. They must be taught a lesson and orders have been given to do by them as they have done by us.
The cook just rang the mess bell and the dash is now on to get a good place in line for ‘seconds.’ Give my regards to the bunch. Will let you know when we leave for the front again. Good luck until next time camrade. Always
Your sincere friend,
PVT. HAL J. CHISHOLM
Battery B, 53rd Artillery, C.A.C., A.E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by Hal J. Chisholm to his Hot Springs friend Fred Kelly.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON