Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1919 — LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR SOLDIERS

Walter Nagel Is Now Stationed at LeMans, France. Walter Nagel, son of Joseph Nagel of southwest of town, and who has been overseas with the A. E. F. for some seven or eight months, writes home that he is now stationed at LeMans, where a few other Jasper county boys who are with the 30th division, are stationed. Some units of the 30th division have returned home and others are on the way, but no local boys have returned as yet so far as The Democrat has learned. The last letter received from the editor’s son, D. J. Babcock, whom Walter mentions, was written on Christmas day:

LeMans, France, Meh. 11, 1819. Dear Sister and All—As I have a little time now will write you a few lines. Hope you are well yet. I am feeling fine again. We are at Le Mans now. We started to pack up last Friday morning and by 12:30 we were on our way. Arrived here Monday morning and had to walk a mile to our camp. That wasn’t so bad. W>hen we left the other camp most of the bunch had to march about 10 kilometres to the train, but as luck happened t'he squad that I am in had to load the bed sacks on the trucks, and I got to ride. I was ■mighty glad of it, too. It took us two and one-half days to get here. We moved about 500 kilometres (wihich equals about 320 miles) and our camp now is a mile from LeMans. We live in tents here and it is much healthier than in barracks.' There are quite a few barracks here. This camp makes me feel like I ami in the States. It is so nice and dry around here. • I forgot -to tell you that when we came here we rode in American box cars. There were about 40 of us in one car, but we slept pretty good anyway. D. J. Babcock is here. I don’t know if 1 will get to see him, but I am going to try to find him tonight. The 30th division is here but many of them have left already for the States. We were sent over to the “delouser” yesterday and maybe you

think that 1 wasn’t glad to get rid of those cooties. We are to get a shot in the arid tomorrow. You know how well I like thenx The French turned their clocks an hour ahead last Bunday. It don’t get dark here until 7130. It is very warm here now. A person can sit outdoors all day without a coat on. . . Well, as it Is getting dark now. I must close for this time. Give my regards to everybody around there. t „ With love and best wishes to all. your loving brother, WALTER.