Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1918 — BROTHERS MEET IN FRANCE [ARTICLE]

BROTHERS MEET IN FRANCE

George and Everett Gardner of Kankakee, Illinois, brothers of Mrs. Lesley Miller of Rensselaer, had a pleasant and unexpected meeting with each in France early last month, the former writes Mrs. Miller. George is in -the Areo division and has been “across” some six or eight months, while Everett, who.is in the motor truck Service, went over in October. They met by accident and ’had a pleasant half-day together.

Frank S. Foster, formerly of Remington, but now of New Orlenas, LoiAisiana, writes to a friend at Remington from; Limoges, France, under date of November 3, and among other things says: I have been in Limoges since March the .fifteenth and would like a change of scenery, although the hills look beautiful as seen from the hospital. We are located near the outskirts of a fairly good town and occupy the original “Haviland China” factory. I worked with Mrs. Haviland in a French hospital, dressing wounds, a little over two months. The wounded are coming in fast, and tonight there is a train coming. ’ Quite a bunch came in last night. ’ I am ward master on the fourth floor, and this morning in giving orders for clothing to the newcomers I ran across a big surprise. To one I said, “What’s your name?” Answer was “Ackerman.” “First name?” “John.” Told the boy that I used to know a person with the same name. Asked him what part of the states he hailed from. “Indiana.” Face had a familiar look, so I said, “Remington, with a brother named

Bill,” and his eyes opened wide. It was, indeed, your old pupil, 'John Ackerman, with a gunshot wound of the upper right arm. Is getting along fine and smiling all the time. The world is not so large as we think it la sometimes. One night, several months ago we received about five hundred sick and wounded and I was told to take some men to a certain barracks. In turning around I received a shock. The boy .nearest me was a good friend of mine, living in New Orleans, just around the corner from me. He was so glad to see me that t'he tears ran down his cheeks. Said I was the first friend he had seen since leaving the States. Knew several other boys in the unit. He was sick, not wounded, although belonging to a machine gun company in the Marines, and being In the thick of it three times. He’s back on the firing line again.