Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 214, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 September 1918 — HERMAN AMES WRITES PARENTS, MR. AND MRS. ED. AMES [ARTICLE]

HERMAN AMES WRITES PARENTS, MR. AND MRS. ED. AMES

Sept. 9, 1918. Dear Father, Mother and All: y l We arrived in port Saturday even-' i ing at 8. Shoved off a forty-eight hour liberty party, so J rated it and i went ashore, but I came back to the ' ship early. Was rather tired so I ! slept all night and this morning, so i as I feel pretty good now I wiH try and make this as long and as interesting as possible. Well, to start in, we had a fine trip over. Landed our troops O. K., and they were a happy bunch of boys to ; get there safe. Two sections of our ship’s company had liberty over there, but I was out of luck again. Don and Storky got to go ashore, but it was just on concert duty, I guess.

Coming back we brought lots of soldiers and Y. M. C. -A. workers. Some" of the fellows were pretty badly crippled up, but they aH seem to be happy. Mr. Ralph Sayers, Wilson’s son-in-law, was on our ship coming back, and gave several lectures coming across. We hit an awful storm as short ways out of here. It was a njnetymile gale and was sure some rough. Our ship . rolled forty degrees and there were some awful sick boys. We lost three men overboard, while several were badly injured. While the storm was at its wprst I would stand my watches then go to the top side where it was safer.

Here are a few words I had with an army lieutenant who was laying oyer the hand rail feeding the fishes. He was sure a terribly seasick soldier. I said to him, “What’s the matter with you? Want the doctor?” He never said a word only after a while he turned around -and said to me: “Say; sailor, you know we fellows are in the habit of thinking you boys of the navy have a snap, but I will tell the world I would rather be in the first line trenches than to be here now.” I said to him, “Yes, but it isn’t this way all the time.” He said, “Yes, I know, but once is enough for me,” and walked away very unsteady. I did feel awful sorry for him, as your son Herman sat with his head in a bucket for two long trips, but it seems to me a joke now days as I never get sick any more. I sent Howard, Edd Rose and Ted Sell their things. I suppose they have them by this time, and I bet they were a tickled bunch of boys. Now tell these people if there is anything they want to send, to mail it to me and I will (be only too glad to pay the French postage on it and send it on to our boys in No Man’s Land. I have received lots of mail since arriving here and it sure makes a fellow feel good. Had several letters from Dell, you, and other people at home. Oh, yes, and a. fine letter from a little girl I met on the train coming back from New York. You said in a letter that Mr. and Mrs. Markin and Mary were going to send me a kodak album. Well, it will be greatly appreciated, for you know those are the things I care for most. \ I will never forget my few days wt home. Everyone seemed glad to see nie and treated me fine. New York is a great place, but no place like home. Yes, Mam, no doubt you thought I may have been a Jew peddler with my two bags with pasteboard boxes tied on the sides of them, but I didn’t care, for I knew what Was in them and could have whipped a regiment of (Germans to defend them. As I came through New York City peoples’ eyes popped out at them, but I didn’t care again, as it was all for Storky, Don, Howard, Edd Rose and Ted Sell. There was a grand and glorious feed aboard the U. S. S. V. S. that night. Fried squirrel was a treat for the boys, with pickles, cake and candy and all kinds of soft drinks. With many thoughts of home that were expressed. With lots of love to all and everyone. Am out of paper or would write more.

HERMAN.

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