Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 63, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1917 — VERN DAVISSON WRITES HOME [ARTICLE]

VERN DAVISSON WRITES HOME

Tells Further Details of His Experiences at the Front. The Democrat is permitted to publish another letter from Verr tJavisson, written to his parents here, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Davisson, tlhat gives additional details of hig experiences at the battle front in France. Winter is coming on there now and it would appear that the soldiers dread the cold more than they do the Germans, as the retreating enemy burns and destroys every semblance of Shelter before leaving. The letter in full follows: At the Front, October 17, 1917. Dear Mother and father: Hope this letter finds you all O. K. I am feeling fine but having an awful time keeping myself warm, as we have to sleep out most of the time and the weather is very cold, damp and rainy. At two of the “Poste de Secours” we are obliged to sleep outside as there are no places fixed for us. We move from one place to another and every building is of course shot, shelled, dynamited and burned to the ground by the Germans before they retreat, so there are no places for us to stay except outside or in

our ambulances, which are very uncomfortable and also close to the firing line. We must remain there twenty-four hours unless some wounded come In on stretchers, then we hustle them to the field hospital and go back to the “Poste de Secours.” After the twenty-four hours are up a relief ambulance comes out and we return to the camp, which is also located in ruins of towns, generally about six or seven miles behind the firing lines. We make little houses, out of tar paper, old hoards and bricks or anything we can get. There are “caves'* or “cave abri” (French) imade at different places where we hustle into when a bombardment commences or when the big German shells begin coming in too thick and fast to suit us. Sometimes we have to remain there a long time. When a gas attack is started we are warned by a klaxon horn or a bugle. We put on our masks, which are always in a little sack swung across our shoulders ready for use at any moment. We have only used, them once so far. You asked me what I wanted for Xmas. That’s an easy question to answer. It’s something that all 'the boys are getting and we cannot get it here. It is a sheepskifi-lined sleep bag. It is about the only thing we can keep warm with at nights. It is understood here that we will be sent to the (mountains with this sector of the French army and it is terribly cold there. I don’t know what it will cost but it will be worth a million. Look through the catalogs and if you don’t find one, Marshall Field, Chicago, or some of those army stores have certainly got them. The officers say a person will almost freeze to death without them. You see we have no beds and have to sleep wherever we can lay down while on duty. We very near freeze now and the winter has hardly begun. My sheepskin coat is the best thing I have and I wear it every day now. . Don’t send any mail or anything through 2j Rue Raynard any more. They hold it up too (much and it takes too long to get it. Use the following address, - Your loving son, V. C. DAVISSON, S S. U. 72, Convois Autos, Par. R. C. M., Paris, France. This will reach me any place In France much quicker. P. S.—l am enclosing you two pictures. One was taken on the Chicago ship about half way across the ocean. The other was taken after we were in service about two or three days. The strap across my shoulder is part of the case my gas mask is in. The two at the left of me are Frenchmen at the war telegraph office. I have a lot of good ones but I cannot send* theim. The French censors would throw them out. Oh, I forgot something of grave importance to tell you. lam growing a nice little mustache and goatee. Ha, ha! How is Louie’s little chap coming along? That is •- quite an army home guard. I see Clyde is in it. Tell him there is lots of fighting over here. In American money the French soldiers get 5 cents per day. We get S3O a month and they think that is awful. Will close this time. Good-bye, V. C. D.