Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 260, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1918 — FROM PRIVATE LLOYD PARKS. [ARTICLE]

FROM PRIVATE LLOYD PARKS.

- ’Private Lloyd Parks writes the following interesting letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Parks: France, Sept. 10, 1918. Dear Folks:— We have just been issued blue envelopes and as this is Dad’s birthday, will write you to let you know I am feeling fine and wish Dad a lot more birthdays; I have been at the front a little more than two weeks and as there hasn’t been much excitement, I can only tell you about myself. We get good eats and have dandy barracks

for our sleeping quarters, so you see lam not in such a bad place. I wish all the fellows were located as good as we are. Of course, we don’t have every want gratified but we get along far better than I ever hoped. Am writing this in a French Y. M. C. A. and the room is full of them. They are a dandy people and wish I could talk French. I can say a few words and hope to learn more. I saw a Frenchman tackle four German planes the other day and shall try and tell you about it. I had been out on. a fatigue detail and had come back to camp for dinner. Had just finished when we saw five airplanes high above us. One was a large plane and turned out to be a French observation plane. Observation planes carry two men, the pilot and the ob-

server They are not as speedy as the fighting planes, and with that disadvantage besides being outnumbered, the Frenchmen had little chance to get away. He was doing dives and loop the loop and everything he could, but one German got a straight drive at him and shot the pilot once through the chest aim one shot through the face. It must have killed him instantly. The observer climbed from his seat over into the.pilot’s and brought the machine down. He lost control of it when about fifty feet from the ground and it broke the wings and wrecked it some but not beyond repair. He lit about a mile from camp

and I was one of the first to get there. The observer wasn’t 'butt but fainted when he learned the pilot had been killed. He had to have some nerve to have done what he did and I was sorry he did not land without breaking the machine. It was a terrible thing to see as there was blood all. over the machine and a hole in the pilot's face about as big as a 'half dollar. I was sorry it couldn’t have been a German as the battle in the air was very interesting and was the first we have had a chance to see. We went back to our work and nothing happened that - afternoon. When we came in and had our supper we were in line to sign the pay roll, when two-shells came over and bursted not far from us. One piece of shrapnel hit just a few feet from us and was hot when picked up. Now I don’t claim to be a hero and am not a coward, but if a few Shots as close as those two were come again, I won’t oe there. We have shrapnel proof dugouts and I surely will use one of them the next time. The other evening we had a dandy entertainment. Three ladies and a man, all working for the Y. M. C. A., gave us an hour or two of good music and readings. Naturally We all enoyed them very much as we never ;et to see any women and hear very ittle music. This would be an- ideal place if a fellow could get irito a city occasionally, as just lying around gets monotonous and a fellow hardly knows what to do to kill time. We play ball and I read a great deal but there isn’t much else to do; Am to lelp in the kitchen tomorrow, and it s the first time since t have been here have had the job. Just have to wash pans, carry water and anything the cook tells you to do. Am going to write one or two other etters and enclose them in this envelope you can mail them for me. When you answer this letter, give ifte some of the fellows’ addresses, as I may be close to some of them. Stewart is getting along fine and we are upholding the honor and dignity, of Jasper county, as Dr. Loy asked us to do. /Am getting tired trying to write when I can’t think Cf anything to say so will close for this tinse. I will no doubt 'have something <jf terest to write before I receive an answer to this, but don’t expect too much, because of the censor. Don’t worpr about me as I was never better in my life. Hope you folks are all well and prospering. Lots of love to all, and tell the kiddies I’ll write to them* before long. Regards to all the fellows. Write when you have time. Haven’t heard from you up to date. Have my mail sent to the following address. ' PVT. LLOYD S. PARKS, Bat E, 42 Art C. A. C., A, g. F.