TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE AUGUST 11, 1918 P. 2
It was a great day. It was just like one of those big rabbit drives we used to have in California. Some few came toward us with their hands over their heads yelling “Kamerad, Kamerad,” while a few, but only a few stood fast and fought like men. But the greater part of them, stampeded like a bunch of frightened animals. It was as the old saying is “like taking candy from a baby.”
My worst trouble was keeping my section from advancing too fast. When they saw the boches running like rabbits it was hard for them to resist the temptation to chase them. But that would have been hard “on old shoes,” as the French and American artillery had a barrage on that looked as though it would be impossible for an ant to get through it, let alone a human being. As we advanced behind the artillery barrage, which was all the time moving slowly forward, we came to places where one did not have to walk on the ground for quite a distance if he desired to walk on dead boches.
NOTES: This partial letter dated July 22, was written by Sgt. John B. Little to his brother Reuben T. Little. John was born on April 8, 1892 in Abbott, Arkansas. He was a sergeant in the infantry and was slightly wounded twice in action. He sailed for home onboard the U.S.S. Nebraska from Brest, France on February 25, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
It was a great day. It was just like one of those big rabbit drives we used to have in California. Some few came toward us with their hands over their heads yelling “Kamerad, Kamerad,” while a few, but only a few stood fast and fought like men. But the greater part of them, stampeded like a bunch of frightened animals. It was as the old saying is “like taking candy from a baby.”
My worst trouble was keeping my section from advancing too fast. When they saw the boches running like rabbits it was hard for them to resist the temptation to chase them. But that would have been hard “on old shoes,” as the French and American artillery had a barrage on that looked as though it would be impossible for an ant to get through it, let alone a human being. As we advanced behind the artillery barrage, which was all the time moving slowly forward, we came to places where one did not have to walk on the ground for quite a distance if he desired to walk on dead boches.
NOTES: This partial letter dated July 22, was written by Sgt. John B. Little to his brother Reuben T. Little. John was born on April 8, 1892 in Abbott, Arkansas. He was a sergeant in the infantry and was slightly wounded twice in action. He sailed for home onboard the U.S.S. Nebraska from Brest, France on February 25, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT