WITH OUR SOLDIERS
Interesting Letters from the Boys in France.

TELLS OF HIS EXPERIENCES

Recollection of "Dad's Day" brings the following interesting letter from Harlan Wagner, who has been guiding the destinies of a motor truck in France, Belgium and elsewhere: [Note: This letter is cut off on one side so some words may be missing.]

A. P. O., 745, Dec. 2, 1918

Dear Father:
Got hold of a paper the other day and it said there was to be a Dad's day. When I went to figuring it up the day had come and gone a little over a week, so am writing now. Am hoping to tell you where we have been ever since we came over but no dates [] send it thru the base and see how much gets there.

We started from Brest, where we landed, for Bordeaux to get our trucks a short time after landing. Our company had first, second and third class compartments. I was lucky and got a first, therefore having a very good trip but I sure did feel sorry for the boys that had to crowd up in the third class []. By the way I never had to ride in their box cars yet. There was quite a bit of nice country but none any better than you see if you travel over the states. The company staid in Bordeaux for some time. I spent most of the time in the hospital coming but just in time to get my truck and spend one afternoon in town. Quite a nice town and some wonderful old buildings in it.

We traveled by truck train [] Packards' from there to Nevers, making from 70 to 133 kilos a day. Celebrated the French 4th there, but it was the 14th. Saw the nicest cathedral there I have seen in France. Took a load and ran on into Longres where we turned over the trucks. Left there by train for St. Die. Daly had a short run but our cars had to be transferred five times so it took us all day and half of a night to make it, and to cap it off had a long dirty, dusty ride by truck to finish up the trip.

They had a provisional company at St. Die doing our work until we got there and believe me the trucks they handed us were something to see. It took me a week to get mine to working anywhere near right. I took everything from nuts to dead [] out of my gas tank and from [] of what came out of the motor they must have had a rich mixture for cooling. Our job there was to haul from the rail head to St. Die or to the different companies themselves. From here we went to Archeres. The division came out of the trenches and they kept us some busy keeping them in rations and helping move them at the same time. Only staid there a day or so when we started for Byron and the Toul front. Our stops to the Toul front were Bayon, Rosieres, Jallon [or Jailon] and Averon Ville. Averon Ville being our base while the troops were in this front. This was the front that I got my first real experience with
shells. It was a hot one too I can tell you. This division took part in the St. Mihiel drive which I suppose you remember and we started for the Verdun front.

On the Verdun front our headquarters were at Mixiville and we were stationed at Sivery le Perch. Stopped on the way from Averon Ville for a week in Vertuzy, the best week's rest we have had since we have been over. On the Verdun front we had our hardest work. Hauled over roads that had been shelled for the last two or three years and a good deal under shell fire when we were driving. We were luck the only losing one man. When we got the Germans on the run we started to following our division as they went ahead. Stopped at Iviory a few days and went on to Milly. We were in Iviory
when the shooting stopped or rather the company was, for I only ate one meal with them while they were there. Had us running day and night there. I met the company at Milly. Staid there a few days and I caught a trip to Lizon which kept me out a week and when I came in the company had moved. Found a  Major who told me the company was at Longoyen so came here and found them.

Here we leave tomorrow but for where I don't know. Have had two days' rest so don't care a great deal.

Does this look like a book? If it does divide it up in chapters and take a week to read it. Bt it is the longest you ever got from me. Tell mother I get the Free Press quite regularly now and that I am sure
glad to get it. Am expecting a letter from home soon now. No mail has come for quite a while so I am getting anxious to hear.

Tell Hazel she has a letter following this pretty close so she won't be surprised. Tell Grandma when you write to her hello for me and the same to Grandpa and wish every one a Happy New Year.

As ever,
CPL. H. A. WAGNER
Co. E. 5th Div, M. S. T.
American Ex. F.

~ source: Ruthven Free Press, Ruthven, Palo Alto, Iowa, Wednesday, Jan 8, 1919

~ transcribed by a volunteer for Palo Alto Co, IA   http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/index.htm