Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 October 1917 — “SAM AND "BUMMER” [ARTICLE]

“SAM AND "BUMMER”

SAY SHERMAN WAS RIGHTLOCAL BOYS VIEWING THE WONDERS OF WAR. The following letter from Samuel Duvall, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Duvall, who left for France last July for service as ambulance driver, tells of the experiences they are going through and just what the American soldiers will find themselves up against when they land on the “other side.” Despite the dangers they are passing through, the boys feel that they have largely been repaid and state that they are perfectly happy: September 20, 1917. (Wednesday night.) Dear Mother, Dad and Ed: I am in a poste de secours, sitting in a cave abri, about one kilometer behind the French lines, thinking about you and wondering why you don’t write. I haven’t received a scratch from any one except Fred Hamilton since I arrived in France.

When Sherman said war was “hell,” he said a mouthful, in my judgment. We are sure getting a real taste of it tonight. If possible, imagine a mixture of Boche shells from their largest to their smallest guns on a continual firing of French batteries not over five hundred yards away, all containing many “soix aute quieze,” and many heavier pieces, upon a rainy night. Well, that is the atmosphere that I am trying to write this in, so if my letter should seem a bit gloomy, why pardon it, as it takes a much stronger imagination than mine to overcome this damnable situation tonight. If the people of Rensselaer realized what really is going on here, they would appreciate living in such a peaceful little city like Rensselaei more than they do a thousand times. The boys in Company M, who are desirous of plenty of excitement and a good taste of war, will sure they want when they land here on the front.

Perhaps, sitting in a hole in the ground about thirty feet deep with logs, sand bags and steel bars for a roof doesn’t sound very pleasant and not so fine as the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago for a lodging place, but “Bummer” and I are perfectly happy and contented here and prefer it a whole lot more on this particular night, for they sure have some regular shell storms here. Fred Hamilton describes the spirit in our lines like that old football spirit Parker hammered into us and he says, “ ‘Bud’, when you get him on the run don’t stop until you set the ‘pigskin’ beyond the river Rhine.” Early yesterday morning during a lull in the battle, “Bummer” and I crawled out from our cave abri for a bit of fresh air, as we had been obliged to remain here for many hours until the heavy bombarding had ceased, then we ventured to the first line of trenches, via communication trench. After reaching it we talked to many English speaking Frenchmen. All that they seemed to want us to talk about and tell them was, when are the “Sammies” coming to help us crush the damned

“Boche.” , „ There was a “Boche” 320 shell landed about fifteen paces from the door to our cave abri. We dug the nose or fuse rather of the shell up, for a souvenir and took pictures of it, with myself standing in it, with just my head sticking out. Lord, when those shells hit they make holes in the ground large enough to put a couple of Fords in and shake the ground for miles. I have a friend overeat one of the battenes and the other night “Bummer” and I werft over and stayed all night. They have been shelling the devil out of a French city by the name of X, which the German occupy. We joined in the fun, shooting twenty 320 s apiece into the city about nine miles away. We have to stand on our toes and stuff cotton in our ears, when we press the button which fires the cannon. I have one of the empty shells I shot into the city, which I intend to bring home with me, if I

can, for A souvenir. At night the , star shells illuminate “No Man’s Land” for miles around. One would think it a Fourth of July night celebration from a distance if he didn t know what was really going on. Every evening after supper we go outside and sit down for an hour or so and watch the French and Boshe aeroplanes settle their disputes in the air. It’s great sport to see the shells burst sometimes above, under and all around them, then occasionally a Frenchman will make a “BullsEye”.and down comes Mr. Dutchman. I took a picture of one Frenchman last week whom we saw bring down six German planes. It is getting quiet outside now, as it is nearly 2 a. m., so I will close now, as “Bummer” and I have to beat it down the lines to the first dressing station in our ambulance to see if we have any “blesses,” or wounded in English to take back to the base hospital about twelve kilometers away. (In camp two days later.) Since I wrote the above I received two letters from home. Congratulations, Ed and Mrs. Duvall, I wish you both a long, happy married life. I .guess Ed has forgotten he has a brother over here in France, but that is all right, I guess. I like it very much in France and expect to remain for a while after

the war is over, whenever that may be. About Xmas time !am going on a two weeks’ leave into southern France and Spain. k Well, bye-bye for this time. Wil write again soon. Send me some newspapers and magazines to read. With love, SAM.