TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DERMOTT NEWS SEPTEMBER 12, 1918 P. 4
Somewhere in France
August 14, 1918
Dear Mother:
I am just back off the firing line. I had a pretty good taste of war this time. I am pretty tired now as I couldn’t sleep much while I was on the line. The Germans would shoot gas shells over on us at night and we would have to keep our masks on so we could not get much sleep. Mustard gas has burnt a big blister on my knee but luckily I didn’t get any in my eyes or lungs. The blister doesn’t amount to anything.
I have been living like a prairie dog in a hole in the ground. There was a big air battle the first day we were at the front and bullets from the machine guns hit two of our boys in the arm.
On two different days I saw one lone Frenchman in an aeroplane bring down two German planes. The first day at the front, two observation balloons were burnt up and the munition dump blown up.
I had rather be on the front facing rifle and machine gun fire any time than to be back in the support or reserve where the big shells hit. The Boches tried to establish a strong point on the River Vesle but they failed. They are four miles back from there now. We folks over here don’t think the war will last much longer. The Allies are pushing them back on every front now.
I haven’t received any mail yet. I don’t expect I will for about two more months. They sure do hike us a lot. Sometimes we ride in trucks but not much. While we are riding on the railroad we ride in box cars.
Well I must close now. Write to me soon and often.
With love to all,
Your son,
James A. Morris
Co. K, 88th Inf. 3d Div. ,
A.E. F. France
NOTES: Written to his mother, Mrs. J. A. Morris
TRANSCRIBED BY JACOB GREEN
Somewhere in France
August 14, 1918
Dear Mother:
I am just back off the firing line. I had a pretty good taste of war this time. I am pretty tired now as I couldn’t sleep much while I was on the line. The Germans would shoot gas shells over on us at night and we would have to keep our masks on so we could not get much sleep. Mustard gas has burnt a big blister on my knee but luckily I didn’t get any in my eyes or lungs. The blister doesn’t amount to anything.
I have been living like a prairie dog in a hole in the ground. There was a big air battle the first day we were at the front and bullets from the machine guns hit two of our boys in the arm.
On two different days I saw one lone Frenchman in an aeroplane bring down two German planes. The first day at the front, two observation balloons were burnt up and the munition dump blown up.
I had rather be on the front facing rifle and machine gun fire any time than to be back in the support or reserve where the big shells hit. The Boches tried to establish a strong point on the River Vesle but they failed. They are four miles back from there now. We folks over here don’t think the war will last much longer. The Allies are pushing them back on every front now.
I haven’t received any mail yet. I don’t expect I will for about two more months. They sure do hike us a lot. Sometimes we ride in trucks but not much. While we are riding on the railroad we ride in box cars.
Well I must close now. Write to me soon and often.
With love to all,
Your son,
James A. Morris
Co. K, 88th Inf. 3d Div. ,
A.E. F. France
NOTES: Written to his mother, Mrs. J. A. Morris
TRANSCRIBED BY JACOB GREEN