TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SOLIPHONE SEPTEMBER 26, 1918 P. 12
We are walking through the Huns like a bird dog would through a bunch of birds, and the Huns are as afraid of the marines as the birds are of the dog, for the dog kills all he gets hold of and the marines do the same. They don't like the thought of having the Huns around them, but the army is taking prisoners, and the French certainly have taken a bunch of them, too. It is great to be here to see and hear what is going on. I wouldn't have missed coming over here for anything. I am certainly enjoying myself fine. I am going to have fried chicken tomorrow and you know how well I like it. My French girl is going to fix it for me. She is a fine cook and she is like all the other French--would do anything for us marines. We have a good record here, as well as there. The French government has named a place where we have been fighting after us. They had to put a few marines with every bunch of army men to show them how to fight. One place the French tried to go over the top three times and they failed every time, and the last time they asked for the American marines, saying they can go over, and the marines were there in a short time, and they gave us 20 minutes rest after a hike and then said, 'go after those Huns' and we went, too, and didn't have to make the second trial either. When the Hun sees the marines come over the top he knows it is either run or die and lots of times they don't get time to run and lots of times they want to run but cannot run fast enough to get away.
All of the boys are anxious to get right in front now. Those who have been wounded can hardly wait until they get well and some of them won't wait they slip off from the hospital in order to get back to the front with their company. It is wonderful to hear them tell how they get the Huns and they are getting lots of them every day.
The Hun is retreating every day. I have a picture of a girl and her home which was taken in Chateau-Thierry two years ago. It sure was a beautiful place then, but the Huns badly damaged it. The girl is going up there next week to see the place once more. The Hun was driven out of there in July and he left in the night and didn't lose any time for several miles. He left something in the rear when he came up and when the marines got in there they made him think of it. He started right back to hunting for it but he hasn't found it yet. He is still going to look and I think when he finds it he will be in Berlin unless he gives out before he gets there and if he does and stops to rest the Americans will get there and they will never find what they are running after. I don't know what it is they are after but they are doing some swift running. The allies had to bring up their cavalry to keep up with them--they were going so fast.
Well, you said the bank was getting me a medal. If they do, you keep it until I come back.
NOTES: This letter was written from France by Marine S. R. Jones of Jonesboro, Arkansas to his father Mr. J. C. Jones of Route 4.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
We are walking through the Huns like a bird dog would through a bunch of birds, and the Huns are as afraid of the marines as the birds are of the dog, for the dog kills all he gets hold of and the marines do the same. They don't like the thought of having the Huns around them, but the army is taking prisoners, and the French certainly have taken a bunch of them, too. It is great to be here to see and hear what is going on. I wouldn't have missed coming over here for anything. I am certainly enjoying myself fine. I am going to have fried chicken tomorrow and you know how well I like it. My French girl is going to fix it for me. She is a fine cook and she is like all the other French--would do anything for us marines. We have a good record here, as well as there. The French government has named a place where we have been fighting after us. They had to put a few marines with every bunch of army men to show them how to fight. One place the French tried to go over the top three times and they failed every time, and the last time they asked for the American marines, saying they can go over, and the marines were there in a short time, and they gave us 20 minutes rest after a hike and then said, 'go after those Huns' and we went, too, and didn't have to make the second trial either. When the Hun sees the marines come over the top he knows it is either run or die and lots of times they don't get time to run and lots of times they want to run but cannot run fast enough to get away.
All of the boys are anxious to get right in front now. Those who have been wounded can hardly wait until they get well and some of them won't wait they slip off from the hospital in order to get back to the front with their company. It is wonderful to hear them tell how they get the Huns and they are getting lots of them every day.
The Hun is retreating every day. I have a picture of a girl and her home which was taken in Chateau-Thierry two years ago. It sure was a beautiful place then, but the Huns badly damaged it. The girl is going up there next week to see the place once more. The Hun was driven out of there in July and he left in the night and didn't lose any time for several miles. He left something in the rear when he came up and when the marines got in there they made him think of it. He started right back to hunting for it but he hasn't found it yet. He is still going to look and I think when he finds it he will be in Berlin unless he gives out before he gets there and if he does and stops to rest the Americans will get there and they will never find what they are running after. I don't know what it is they are after but they are doing some swift running. The allies had to bring up their cavalry to keep up with them--they were going so fast.
Well, you said the bank was getting me a medal. If they do, you keep it until I come back.
NOTES: This letter was written from France by Marine S. R. Jones of Jonesboro, Arkansas to his father Mr. J. C. Jones of Route 4.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD