From Our Soldier Boys - Letter from Merle Cole

The following letter was received by A.J. Phillips of this city:

Somewhere in France
May 31, 1918
Dear Spec: I received your peach of a letter today and am answering in the wee small hours. These watches are lonesome but not half as bad as guarding a picket in the rain. Am operating a switchboard, but it is some different than J.M. Thoma's.

We buried a pal of mine yesterday and it sure was an impressive funeral. As we passed down the street every French soldier snapped up to a salute and young kids and old grey-haired men bared their heads until we passed by. Everyone was mounted but the firing squad and pall bearers. I was a pall bearer and it was a hard thing for me to do. When you bury a friend 6,000 miles from home it is no picnic.

I took my nag out to the creek today and gave him a bath and he looks fine. He didn't exactly appreciate it at the time, but he sure does now.

Postville sure did go "over the top" in the LIberty Loan, didn't she? If you fellows didn't "go over" back there we would be out of luck over here, so go to it. We will give old man Kaiser that pill you were talking about in record time if you keep that up.

"Fatty's" letter reminds me of our times at Camp Mills, when they were taking us out to dancing parties. At the time Brooklyn and New York kept us pretty busy tho' and we didn't appreciate it. I sure would like to dance with an American girl at the present writing tho'.

Coming from the funeral yesterday we met a Red Cross nurse and she said "Hello Boys!" Whoops! but it does send a thrill up a guy's back and makes him proud of being a Yank. The French girls never can compare with our "Distinctly Individual" Americans.

Gee! I didn't think Harold was in the graduating class. It makes me feel as if I should retire and settle down to a ripe old age. I hope we never have to retire. (Joke)

So you and Heck are teaching the rookie squads east? We sure got our fill of that at Camp Mills. Can't you and Heck write a partnership letter? I haven't heard from him since I packed my tooth brush and towel and left Postville and would like to hear from him. So Al and Fat are both Lieutenants? Send me the address of some of those kids that are over here and I will try and look them up.

Your friend,
M.W. Cole
Hdq. Co. 151 F.A., A.F.F.

Postville Herald, July 5, 1918
-transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

Bullets Sound like Bumblebees

Somewhere in France, Sept 3rd

I received your letter of the 28th of July yesterday, the first mail I have had for some time, and I was very glad to get it.   I didn't miss mail much, as I have done my first turn in the front line trenches and sometimes it was quite exciting. I came through all o.k. without a
scratch.  The machine gun bullets and bits of shrapnel sound something like an angry bumblebee, though they say they are more serious.

I haven't seen Alfred for some time now, but will probably run across him soon. I am in an rest camp now, at least they call it a rest camp.  I've stood everything fine and have never been sick. I sure think of the old Ford when I am on a long hike, and when I get home I'll not walk so much.  I suppose things must be very much different now than when I left. So many of the boys going into service, help must be scarce.

This is French stationery, three envelopes and three sheets of paper costing 20 centimes;  50 centimes equal 9 cents. I got 150 francs last payday. We see but very little U. S. money here, and we don't have much chance to spend what we get.  It is time for another payday and I have more than half of last month's pay left.  I must close for this time, so good-bye.

Love to all,
Pvt. Myron J. Brooks
Co. F, 359th Inf.

"This letter from Myron J. Brooks sent to his parents back here in Allamakee county was published in the newspaper in Oct. 1918.  I am sure the original has been lost or burnt."
transcribed by Janet Koozer for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb; Myron J. Brooks was her uncle

RETURNED WAUKON SOLDIER IS FETED
Was Shot Through Knee and Narrowly Escaped Losing Leg.

Special to the Times-Journal:
Waukon, Ia. Feb. 18 -- Dr. and Mrs. John Haecker entertained at a 3 course 6 o'clock dinner in honor of George Kelly, who lately returned from France and was home on furlough from the Camp Dodge hospital. George was shot through the knee cap and at one time it was feared he would lose his leg above the
knee, at any rate his limb will always be stiff. Several of his soldier friends were guests and the party spent a very enjoyable evening in talking over camp duties and Mr. Kelley gave a fine talk on his work with the army in France.

Dubuque Times Journal; Tuesday, February 18, 1919; Page 5, Col. 5
-transcribed by M. Durr for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

"Over There" they Go

The following from this locality will go in the July calls to help in copping off the Kaiser:

Postville Herald, July 19, 1918
-transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb