TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DARDANELLE POST DISPATCH MARCH 13, 1919 P. 1
Neuenaur (Rheinland), Jan. 15, 1919.
Dearest Mother:
I wrote you a letter last night, but will write again tonight.
You asked me when I left home to write and tell you all about this country so you could have it put in the paper. Well, I'm going to try and write you a long letter.
We left Camp Beauregard, La, June 16th, 1918, for Camp Merritt, N.J., arriving there June 20th. Had a nice trip and went through several states, among them, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. I went to New York several times while we were at Camp Merritt. We stayed in camp there just one week and then to Hoboken, N.J. to our transport which was an English ship, "The Saxon." There were thirteen ships in our convoy and we were on the water 13 days, landing in Glasgow, Scotland, the 10th of July. Nothing really exciting happened on our way over here, although we did get a few shots at submarines.
From Glasgow we went to Winchester, England, on one of the "toy trains" they have over here. We stayed in camp there just one day and then to Southhampton, England which is a port, and left that night for France. I don't know the name of the ship, but it was so small I don't think it had any name. The first place in France was LaHavre and again we had the lucky thirteen. They put thirteen of us in each tent. From there we could hear the big guns and it was about 40 kilometers from the front. We stayed there two days I think it was and again on a toy train we started for "somewhere." On this trip I think we must have covered most of France that wasn't occupied by the Germans and lived on corned beef and hard tack. But in several towns the Red Cross women would serve coffee to us and that helped out. Finally our train stopped at a small village and we unloaded. We went out to what was supposed to be the largest Artillery Camp in France. La Courtine, the camp, was just on the outskirts of the town. And it was there that everyone was assigned to the division to which he would belong.
I was lucky enough to be assigned to the 42nd, or Rainbow Division, and with me were a good many Arkansas boys and some of them from Dardanelle. Among them were Charmel LeMoyne, Joe and Vernon Johnston. All three are with "C" Battery of the 150th F.A.
When we arrived at Division Headquarters at La Fere we were taken in trucks as far as Chateau Thierry where the Americans had just driven the Germans out. We stayed there until nearly dark, although we expected to stay all night, and were told to find us a place to sleep. So the two Johnston boys, Charmel, and myself went into a big crater right on the Marne River and found several beds. So there we were going to sleep. We put all our equipment inside and started out to find something to eat. In the meantime the rest of the bunch left for "we didn't know where." Well, we started on the road to the Front, and so many little roads branched off that we just kept the main road and of course found our destination which was Hdqtrs. 150th F.A. We walked about 4 miles it seemed like to me with all that load I had, and finally found that we had passed our stopping place. We met an M.P. and he told us to take the path and we would find Headquarters Co. So we took it across a wheat field that was so full of shell holes and besides it was dark as could be. Well, we found them, and after a cup of hot coffee we went to bed.
The following morning we all lined up and were assigned to batteries. Charmel and the two Johnston boys to C Battery and I to Hdqtrs. Co. I stayed with Headquarters two days and transferred back to B Battery. Was back of the lines a few days when one morning the Top Sergeant told me to get my equipment and report to the gun position. So out we went. There I was--never had seen one of the guns before--and on my way to help fire one. It was a funny feeling. I was assigned to the first gun section and didn't get to fire a shot in this position. The next day we moved up.
In this position we stayed one week and fired nearly every day and night. Then the Germans were so far that we couldn't reach them. By that time I was used to the guns and shells coming from the Huns. Had several gas alarms but not much gas. And I guess they all laughed at me the night we had a little gas. I had on my mask and I honestly couldn't see anything, but it was only sneezing gas and didn't amount to much.
We went from there to Bassoncourt for a rest and stayed ten days. So the old Rainbow had to go out, this time to the St. Mihiel sector. And there we did good work as the papers will tell you. Then we went to the Verdun front. We went over land that has been fought over since the war started and it sure showed it. All the trees were dead and hundreds of miles of barbed wire entanglements, old trenches and concrete dugouts.
We stayed on this front until the armistice was signed. We were then selected as part of the troops of occupation. So we started for the Rhine. Our route led us through part of Belgium, Luxemburg and then Germany. The mountains and rivers through here are beautiful. So many mountains, one of the boys remarked as we were coming through Luxemburg that he didn't blame the country for being neutral with all its mountains.
At last we came to the end of our journey at Neuenahr, Germany. And here we are now.
Well, I've told you about all, although I guess I've left out some, but will tell you that when we get home. If you have this published please send me a copy. Write me often.
Lots of love to all.
Your loving son,
ROBERT.
Corporal R. D. HalliBurton,
Battery B, 150 F.A.,
American E.F. A.P.O. 715.
NOTES: Robert David Halliburton was born on August 16, 1895 and died on January 20, 1965. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Cpl. serving in Battery B 150th FA during World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Neuenaur (Rheinland), Jan. 15, 1919.
Dearest Mother:
I wrote you a letter last night, but will write again tonight.
You asked me when I left home to write and tell you all about this country so you could have it put in the paper. Well, I'm going to try and write you a long letter.
We left Camp Beauregard, La, June 16th, 1918, for Camp Merritt, N.J., arriving there June 20th. Had a nice trip and went through several states, among them, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. I went to New York several times while we were at Camp Merritt. We stayed in camp there just one week and then to Hoboken, N.J. to our transport which was an English ship, "The Saxon." There were thirteen ships in our convoy and we were on the water 13 days, landing in Glasgow, Scotland, the 10th of July. Nothing really exciting happened on our way over here, although we did get a few shots at submarines.
From Glasgow we went to Winchester, England, on one of the "toy trains" they have over here. We stayed in camp there just one day and then to Southhampton, England which is a port, and left that night for France. I don't know the name of the ship, but it was so small I don't think it had any name. The first place in France was LaHavre and again we had the lucky thirteen. They put thirteen of us in each tent. From there we could hear the big guns and it was about 40 kilometers from the front. We stayed there two days I think it was and again on a toy train we started for "somewhere." On this trip I think we must have covered most of France that wasn't occupied by the Germans and lived on corned beef and hard tack. But in several towns the Red Cross women would serve coffee to us and that helped out. Finally our train stopped at a small village and we unloaded. We went out to what was supposed to be the largest Artillery Camp in France. La Courtine, the camp, was just on the outskirts of the town. And it was there that everyone was assigned to the division to which he would belong.
I was lucky enough to be assigned to the 42nd, or Rainbow Division, and with me were a good many Arkansas boys and some of them from Dardanelle. Among them were Charmel LeMoyne, Joe and Vernon Johnston. All three are with "C" Battery of the 150th F.A.
When we arrived at Division Headquarters at La Fere we were taken in trucks as far as Chateau Thierry where the Americans had just driven the Germans out. We stayed there until nearly dark, although we expected to stay all night, and were told to find us a place to sleep. So the two Johnston boys, Charmel, and myself went into a big crater right on the Marne River and found several beds. So there we were going to sleep. We put all our equipment inside and started out to find something to eat. In the meantime the rest of the bunch left for "we didn't know where." Well, we started on the road to the Front, and so many little roads branched off that we just kept the main road and of course found our destination which was Hdqtrs. 150th F.A. We walked about 4 miles it seemed like to me with all that load I had, and finally found that we had passed our stopping place. We met an M.P. and he told us to take the path and we would find Headquarters Co. So we took it across a wheat field that was so full of shell holes and besides it was dark as could be. Well, we found them, and after a cup of hot coffee we went to bed.
The following morning we all lined up and were assigned to batteries. Charmel and the two Johnston boys to C Battery and I to Hdqtrs. Co. I stayed with Headquarters two days and transferred back to B Battery. Was back of the lines a few days when one morning the Top Sergeant told me to get my equipment and report to the gun position. So out we went. There I was--never had seen one of the guns before--and on my way to help fire one. It was a funny feeling. I was assigned to the first gun section and didn't get to fire a shot in this position. The next day we moved up.
In this position we stayed one week and fired nearly every day and night. Then the Germans were so far that we couldn't reach them. By that time I was used to the guns and shells coming from the Huns. Had several gas alarms but not much gas. And I guess they all laughed at me the night we had a little gas. I had on my mask and I honestly couldn't see anything, but it was only sneezing gas and didn't amount to much.
We went from there to Bassoncourt for a rest and stayed ten days. So the old Rainbow had to go out, this time to the St. Mihiel sector. And there we did good work as the papers will tell you. Then we went to the Verdun front. We went over land that has been fought over since the war started and it sure showed it. All the trees were dead and hundreds of miles of barbed wire entanglements, old trenches and concrete dugouts.
We stayed on this front until the armistice was signed. We were then selected as part of the troops of occupation. So we started for the Rhine. Our route led us through part of Belgium, Luxemburg and then Germany. The mountains and rivers through here are beautiful. So many mountains, one of the boys remarked as we were coming through Luxemburg that he didn't blame the country for being neutral with all its mountains.
At last we came to the end of our journey at Neuenahr, Germany. And here we are now.
Well, I've told you about all, although I guess I've left out some, but will tell you that when we get home. If you have this published please send me a copy. Write me often.
Lots of love to all.
Your loving son,
ROBERT.
Corporal R. D. HalliBurton,
Battery B, 150 F.A.,
American E.F. A.P.O. 715.
NOTES: Robert David Halliburton was born on August 16, 1895 and died on January 20, 1965. He is buried in the Little Rock National Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Cpl. serving in Battery B 150th FA during World War 1.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD