TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ROGERS DEMOCRAT OCTOBER 3, 1918 P. 1
Dear Folks at Home:
I suppose you folks think me on the move by my not writing before now but it's not that; am on the move in one way but not toward the front. It's right here in our yard switching box cars and what I mean we are still putting in awfully long hours. I was taken off the other job and put in charge of our switch engine about a week ago and this is the first chance I have had to say "hello." Today they gave us all a holiday and I spent the biggest part of it on my bunk and from now until taps I have got to do some awful fast writing to catch up with my correspondence.
We ought to be hearing some good news from the front right away as there are two of our "Big Boys" now there. Gee! I'm sure anxious for our entire outfit to get under way. Also understand now that I've got to take charge of a crew on one of the batteries regardless as to whether I want to or not but I'm glad to have them think enough of me to place me in charge of such an outfit and I'll put strength and all into it to get her thru. I did have hopes of getting on the staff train as brakeman and divisional manager and was signed up as such but now that's all gone thru with.
Have made three trips breaking engineers this week. We go out over the French lines about 30 or 40 miles and they have a pretty good track and road bed; was really surprised after seeing everything else so far behind time; everything is double track, block control. Their rails are just twice as long as ours--66 feet, 80 pounds, and in lots of places they use steel ties for miles and miles. It seem queer that they would have such good track when their rolling equipment is so bum. It is with pride that we gaze on our outfit: they are wonderful to look at--living car, kitchen cars and everything is strictly up to date.
Isn't it just splendid the way the boys are plowing thru at the front? We get news fresh from the battery here and know about all that's going on. They brought a large bunch of prisoners that were captured by the Americans in here a few days ago. Some are nothing more than mere boys. And I don't see how they can possibly hold on much longer at the rate the Americans are now advancing; also saw a "Red Cross wounded train" come in last night. Didn't get to see them take the wounded off but understand there were quite a number of our boys on it. As a rule the ones they send back here are the ones that get to go home, owing to them being unfit for further service.
We get everything we want in the shape of eats. (We had pie three times this week.) All the white bread and butter we want and very often we also have cornbread, so you see it isn't half bad.
September 4th.
I have so much to talk about I hardly know how to start; just got back last night from an eleven days trip over France and am full of experience. We were real near the front in two different places--near enough to hear the guns of the first line trenches and could see considerable excitement in the sky. Went thru towns that were all shot to pieces, over land that was held by the Huns up until a short time ago; saw the trenches, dugouts, the barb wire entanglements, Red Cross trains by the dozen and in fact everything that goes to make the war horrible. It was a wonderful trip--one that would cause a pacifist to turn over a new leaf and get in the game against the Huns for destroying such a beautiful country. Honestly, it is the prettiest country you ever saw. It is just like California from one end to the other. Since going on this trip I'm looking at France from a different view and can see why her sons have fought and died so nobly for the last four years.
I didn't get to visit the "one city" of France, but was in several miles of it: in fact, we made a complete circle around it, and could see part of it, such as the Eifel Tower, an 800 ft. steel structure, noted for being the highest steel structure in the world. Wish I could name some of the places we went thru so you could trace them on the map, but it wouldn't get by; will have to let it go by saying that I have been over the biggest part of France.
I got my new rating, Copper Smith, 2nd class: went into effect the first of this month. Will try and write again in a day or so,
W. J. CURRY.
NOTES: W. J. Curry was serving in a US Railway Battery.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Dear Folks at Home:
I suppose you folks think me on the move by my not writing before now but it's not that; am on the move in one way but not toward the front. It's right here in our yard switching box cars and what I mean we are still putting in awfully long hours. I was taken off the other job and put in charge of our switch engine about a week ago and this is the first chance I have had to say "hello." Today they gave us all a holiday and I spent the biggest part of it on my bunk and from now until taps I have got to do some awful fast writing to catch up with my correspondence.
We ought to be hearing some good news from the front right away as there are two of our "Big Boys" now there. Gee! I'm sure anxious for our entire outfit to get under way. Also understand now that I've got to take charge of a crew on one of the batteries regardless as to whether I want to or not but I'm glad to have them think enough of me to place me in charge of such an outfit and I'll put strength and all into it to get her thru. I did have hopes of getting on the staff train as brakeman and divisional manager and was signed up as such but now that's all gone thru with.
Have made three trips breaking engineers this week. We go out over the French lines about 30 or 40 miles and they have a pretty good track and road bed; was really surprised after seeing everything else so far behind time; everything is double track, block control. Their rails are just twice as long as ours--66 feet, 80 pounds, and in lots of places they use steel ties for miles and miles. It seem queer that they would have such good track when their rolling equipment is so bum. It is with pride that we gaze on our outfit: they are wonderful to look at--living car, kitchen cars and everything is strictly up to date.
Isn't it just splendid the way the boys are plowing thru at the front? We get news fresh from the battery here and know about all that's going on. They brought a large bunch of prisoners that were captured by the Americans in here a few days ago. Some are nothing more than mere boys. And I don't see how they can possibly hold on much longer at the rate the Americans are now advancing; also saw a "Red Cross wounded train" come in last night. Didn't get to see them take the wounded off but understand there were quite a number of our boys on it. As a rule the ones they send back here are the ones that get to go home, owing to them being unfit for further service.
We get everything we want in the shape of eats. (We had pie three times this week.) All the white bread and butter we want and very often we also have cornbread, so you see it isn't half bad.
September 4th.
I have so much to talk about I hardly know how to start; just got back last night from an eleven days trip over France and am full of experience. We were real near the front in two different places--near enough to hear the guns of the first line trenches and could see considerable excitement in the sky. Went thru towns that were all shot to pieces, over land that was held by the Huns up until a short time ago; saw the trenches, dugouts, the barb wire entanglements, Red Cross trains by the dozen and in fact everything that goes to make the war horrible. It was a wonderful trip--one that would cause a pacifist to turn over a new leaf and get in the game against the Huns for destroying such a beautiful country. Honestly, it is the prettiest country you ever saw. It is just like California from one end to the other. Since going on this trip I'm looking at France from a different view and can see why her sons have fought and died so nobly for the last four years.
I didn't get to visit the "one city" of France, but was in several miles of it: in fact, we made a complete circle around it, and could see part of it, such as the Eifel Tower, an 800 ft. steel structure, noted for being the highest steel structure in the world. Wish I could name some of the places we went thru so you could trace them on the map, but it wouldn't get by; will have to let it go by saying that I have been over the biggest part of France.
I got my new rating, Copper Smith, 2nd class: went into effect the first of this month. Will try and write again in a day or so,
W. J. CURRY.
NOTES: W. J. Curry was serving in a US Railway Battery.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD