Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 261, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1918 — HARRY PARKER RECEIVES LETTER FROM SAM DUVALL [ARTICLE]

HARRY PARKER RECEIVES LETTER FROM SAM DUVALL

France October 14, 1918. " Dear Old Coach:— I just this minute came in from the lines where we had an advanced poste and I was so pleased to receive your two letters I told one of the sergeants I was going to answer a letter before 1 returned. - I nave been from one end. of France to the other and on nearly every mile of the western front. I am now on the Belgian front; my division has been co-operating with King Albert’s troops in their attack. About ten days ago we handed Fritz a lemon and up to date we have advanced our lines about fifteen kilometres, as you perhaps have noticed in the papers. This is the second time I have been up here and words can’t express the terrible conditions we have to labor under. You have read about the mud and rain on the Flanders battle fields; well, if you’ll add about two more feet of mud on top of all reports and imaging every river and stream running up hill, then you have a fairly good picture of the scenery around here.

Jerry gave us about ten thousand gas Shells for breakfast this morning; he started in about 3 a. m. and didn’t •let up until 5:30. .Some of the boys got a considerable amount but us who were lucky enough to have a couple of masks, made our change after the first half hour and,we fared much better. Aside" from my eyes smarting a little I feel all right. Have been taught a dozen times in a gas .wave and always weathered through it some way. Night before last a friend and myself were sitting in a little two by four dug out, wet to the skin and hungry. He happened to have a sporting sheet of some American newspaper in his pocket. We looked it over and started to talk about the different out-door sports. Finally our conversation drifted on until we came to the good eats after every game. I mentioned your name and those real foot-ball dinners you set up for us. Gee, but we were hungry and our mouths watered when I told about those feeds. And today I got these letters from you—" I think it is a most unusual thing. I don’t mind this life now, hardened into it and I think we’ll all be lost when the war is over. I heard a while ago they were talking about peace; hope they don’t give it to the German government. I would like to see it go bn for another year or two. We got Fritz up against the wall now and it won’t be many months at the rate we are going now until we can blow up some of their cities. I think we got the toe hold on him now and I would sure hate to see them call it off because this winter and next spring he will get it twisted good and then he will yell for peace with something to boot. I would like io send some photos I have, they are miost interesting.

I was cited by one of our regiments while in an attack near Soissons about,three weeks ago, and I’m going to receive the French war cross with a star on the ribbon. Won’t be so bad, will it, for the efforts I’ve put forth? Got a letter from Doc Johnson a week ago. He had been over to see Fred Hamilton in a London hospital. Got a machine gun bullet in the face but is getting along nicely. ‘l’m married again. Got the finest little girl in France and gfetting along fine. The folk? want me to come home after the war and go in with Ed. Been thinking a great deal about it, but there isn’t any place in the world like Paris and I could find a good job over here. My wife is employed at the headquarters of the American aviation department. Speaks several languages and pulls down good money off of Uncle Sam for acting as an interpreter. If the war don’t end this year she is coming over to see Rensselaer next spring. I want you to meet her if she comes. She is a very interesting person.; can tell you about most anything, for she was a prisoner in Germany for 18 months. Well, I must go now, so give my best regards to the Mrs., and I hope you are both in the best of health, for I never felt better. Write me again sometime soon. I don’t get any too many letters from the hoine folks. ' Best regards, “BUD.”