TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT OCTOBER 24, 1918 P. 6
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
Day before yesterday saw us one month in the country where the war really is. It seems just like a dream. But won't confuse my saying that our stay so far in France has been a dream, together with our trip on the boat across. The trip was a nightmare and by no means a pleasant dream.
I know your readers would like to know about our trip, so to start with I will start from Camp Beauregard, La., and give you a mental voyage to the port of embarkation and on across the pond:
We left Camp Beauregard sometime in August, at 1 p.m., and after three days of steady traveling through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, we arrived at the port of embarkation.
Our sojourn here consisted of two days (just long enough to get our oversea equipment, and from the camp we hiked to the boat. I think that that day must have been a record breaker, as we all came very near melting. We loaded on the boat just like sheep, but with a broad smile on every mother's son's face.
The first three days were days that will long be remembered by us. Just imagine us trying to sleep in the hold of the ship, when it was so warm in there that bread would bake there.
We soon turned north and the weather cooled, much to our advantage and pleasure. From then till we got to the rough sea the trip was an enjoyable one. But, oh, my, when the boat began its pitching it was a sight to see the seasick soldiers. It was amusing, but one hated to laugh to see the boys hardly finish a meal till they would run to the rail and feed the fish. This state of affairs lasted about a week or less and the boys got over their sickness. Again we enjoyed the trip.
You should have seen us when at dinner time one day we sighted the land we were to call home for some time to come. Every one smiled and just kept on smiling.
We made port that afternoon, but did not unload till the next day.
From the boat we went to what they call a rest camp. We failed to find the rest and we had to make the camp. We pitched shelter tents (pup tents) and with the dirt of France as a bed, we existed for a week, living off of cigarettes and what French scenery we could view from the flaps of our tent.
At the end of a week we packed up our equipment and also our troubles and hiked to the railroad station where we were loaded into cars, size eight by sixteen feet, with this stenciled on the outside: "Hommes 40 on Chevaux 8" which translated is "40 men or 8 horses." I extend my sympathy to the poor eight horses who have to ride as we did trying to sleep three deep.
We rode this way one day and a half when we again unloaded and camped in our pup tents, hiking about 11 miles the next morning to where we are now billeted; and it was still in the month of August. We boys can say we traveled over 5,000 miles in less than a month. And the beauty of the whole thing was we did not have to worry about a thing as that trip was duly planned by the other man.
This surely is some pretty country, but nothing to compare with Uncle Sam’s country. But these people are surely nice to us. They are ever mindful of the fact that we are so far from home and they show us every kindness possible. They are even better to us than were the people in Alexandria. Even saying better than people in Alexandria is not saying much. We all had much rather be here where our presence seems to be appreciated whereas our presence was a bore to the people of Alexandria. Our pay days came in handy with them there, be you ever mindful of that fact.
Must quit now and work at little for Sam.
Many regards to the folks at home,
Your friend,
Mechanic Albert Gerspacher
Co. C., 153rd Inf., American E.F.,
A.P.O. No. 904
NOTES: This letter ends abruptly. The letter was written by Albert George Gerspacher. He was born in Tacoma, Washington on March 8, 1889 and died on January 23, 1968. He is buried in the Copperas Springs, Cemetery in Guy, Arkansas. He departed for France from New Port News, VA. On August 6, 1918 onboard the Huron. He was listed as a Mechanic serving with Co. C, 153rd Infantry, 39th division. He returned from Brest, France on February 28, 1919 onboard the New Amsterdam. He arrived on March 9, 1919. He was listed as a Mechanic serving with the Presidio Detachment, 107th Infantry, 27th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Editor Log Cabin Democrat:
Day before yesterday saw us one month in the country where the war really is. It seems just like a dream. But won't confuse my saying that our stay so far in France has been a dream, together with our trip on the boat across. The trip was a nightmare and by no means a pleasant dream.
I know your readers would like to know about our trip, so to start with I will start from Camp Beauregard, La., and give you a mental voyage to the port of embarkation and on across the pond:
We left Camp Beauregard sometime in August, at 1 p.m., and after three days of steady traveling through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia, we arrived at the port of embarkation.
Our sojourn here consisted of two days (just long enough to get our oversea equipment, and from the camp we hiked to the boat. I think that that day must have been a record breaker, as we all came very near melting. We loaded on the boat just like sheep, but with a broad smile on every mother's son's face.
The first three days were days that will long be remembered by us. Just imagine us trying to sleep in the hold of the ship, when it was so warm in there that bread would bake there.
We soon turned north and the weather cooled, much to our advantage and pleasure. From then till we got to the rough sea the trip was an enjoyable one. But, oh, my, when the boat began its pitching it was a sight to see the seasick soldiers. It was amusing, but one hated to laugh to see the boys hardly finish a meal till they would run to the rail and feed the fish. This state of affairs lasted about a week or less and the boys got over their sickness. Again we enjoyed the trip.
You should have seen us when at dinner time one day we sighted the land we were to call home for some time to come. Every one smiled and just kept on smiling.
We made port that afternoon, but did not unload till the next day.
From the boat we went to what they call a rest camp. We failed to find the rest and we had to make the camp. We pitched shelter tents (pup tents) and with the dirt of France as a bed, we existed for a week, living off of cigarettes and what French scenery we could view from the flaps of our tent.
At the end of a week we packed up our equipment and also our troubles and hiked to the railroad station where we were loaded into cars, size eight by sixteen feet, with this stenciled on the outside: "Hommes 40 on Chevaux 8" which translated is "40 men or 8 horses." I extend my sympathy to the poor eight horses who have to ride as we did trying to sleep three deep.
We rode this way one day and a half when we again unloaded and camped in our pup tents, hiking about 11 miles the next morning to where we are now billeted; and it was still in the month of August. We boys can say we traveled over 5,000 miles in less than a month. And the beauty of the whole thing was we did not have to worry about a thing as that trip was duly planned by the other man.
This surely is some pretty country, but nothing to compare with Uncle Sam’s country. But these people are surely nice to us. They are ever mindful of the fact that we are so far from home and they show us every kindness possible. They are even better to us than were the people in Alexandria. Even saying better than people in Alexandria is not saying much. We all had much rather be here where our presence seems to be appreciated whereas our presence was a bore to the people of Alexandria. Our pay days came in handy with them there, be you ever mindful of that fact.
Must quit now and work at little for Sam.
Many regards to the folks at home,
Your friend,
Mechanic Albert Gerspacher
Co. C., 153rd Inf., American E.F.,
A.P.O. No. 904
NOTES: This letter ends abruptly. The letter was written by Albert George Gerspacher. He was born in Tacoma, Washington on March 8, 1889 and died on January 23, 1968. He is buried in the Copperas Springs, Cemetery in Guy, Arkansas. He departed for France from New Port News, VA. On August 6, 1918 onboard the Huron. He was listed as a Mechanic serving with Co. C, 153rd Infantry, 39th division. He returned from Brest, France on February 28, 1919 onboard the New Amsterdam. He arrived on March 9, 1919. He was listed as a Mechanic serving with the Presidio Detachment, 107th Infantry, 27th Division.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD