Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 251, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1918 — LETTER FROM FORD McCOLLY. [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM FORD McCOLLY.

Many rum one have been afloat here as to the inhumanities inflicted upon the body of Ford McColly, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. McColly, of WheatfieJd. It has been reported that he was captured by the Germans and that his nose and ears were cut off. Another rumor was to the effect that he had lost a leg. The following letter received from Ford by County School Superintendent Sterrett gives but little light upon the matter: Versailles, France, 1 September 27, 1918. Dear Friend:— I received your most welcome letter today and was sure glad to get it. I am certainly very much obliged to you for your words of encouragement, for they were surely that. But, I cannot see where you think I have more grit than any of the other fellows, because I came over here to protect the country and its people. Surely, the other boys did the same. I am very sorry you had such a hard time getting my address, but you shall not have to work hard to get it any more, because I will keep you informed of my movements if I make any. Ido not think that I will move any more until I come home, because I will be a cripple all of my life and I have been put on a farm near Paris, though lam unable to work. 'lt is a nice place but I hope to be coming home soon. I cannot see why they put my letters 5n the papers, my picture on the screens and a silver star in the flag for me. I hope they stop all of that work before I come back. If they think that much of me in that country it is not safe for me to come back alone. I will 'have to wait until some of the other boys get home to protect me from the crowd and all the girls, for lam only cripple, you know. I had been looking for a letter from you for six or seven months, but never got one/so I thought you had never received my letter. I told you I would write you, and I seldom go back on my promise. I faot, I never did, yet. , . . Well, how are your people by now 7 I am pretty well except by knee troubles me all the time. By the way, I’ll bet you would not know me if you could see me now. lam not the same fellow who went to school to you. You could see the difference if you could see irfe as a soldier. Well, good-bye, I remain as ever, Your kind friend, FORD E. McCOLLY. Garden Service No. 1, A. P. O. 702, American E. F.