Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-10-27 | Page 8 | Soldier Boys Write Interesting Letters

SOLDIER BOYS WRiTE INTERESTING LETTERS One Is Aiding the British in France, the Other Is Training in Texas. Special to The Tribune. PROVO, Oct. 26. Arthur B. and Mary C. Simmons of this city have received interesting letters recently from their two aons, Edgar Woolley Simmons, who is a master truck driver with the British forces in France, and Alfred Brue Simmons, Sim-mons, who is a radio operator in training at Houston, Te as. Edgar Woolley Simmons enlisted in December, 1917, and went direct to Waco. Texas, where he became a member of an aero squad. He was soon advanced to the rank of sergeant, and later went to the Wilbur Wright field, where ho sewed as an aero mechanic nnd was mado sergeant ser-geant of an aviae.on c.rps. The young man sailed for England In July of the present year and is now In France. He says he is enjoying every minute of the time and that he realizes more than ever that the "United States is the greatest country on the globe. Alfred Bruce Simmons also enlisted in December, 1917, and was sent to Waco. Texas, where he took iTp radio work. After several months at Waco, he was sent to Camp Greene, North Carolina, to guard prisoners, and from there he went to the university at Austin, Texas, where lie was- graduated with high honors In radio work. He Is now at Houston for intensive training. Before his last enlistment en-listment the young man had been on the Mexican border with the national guard. Writing to his mother in regard to his experiences, he says: 'Your dear letter came today and showered me with questions1. It came while I was down in a wet dugout taking messages from a plane, and I could only read it with difficulty. I suppose you have received my short note that will clear your mind in regard to my health. It has been a beautiful day today, br as beautiful as a day in a monotonously level country can be, and I feel the spirit of It after a long spell of rain. "How I long for the mountains! I have Mt even seen a hill since I left the west high enough to be seen more than a mile away. "How often I think of John Ruskin's words when he was still a child: 'Make a picture with blue mountains In it.' "Tou ask me of my work. A radio operator is the only means of connection between the air and the ground. Everything, Every-thing, even to hardship, is planned to simulate in every detail the actual work at the front. We work in very realistic dugouts, with the heavy batteries overhead over-head and the planes In the air. "The planes observe the fire of tha guns and send us the necessary data for changing them to hit various targets. It carries all the excitement and nerve-racking nerve-racking and fatiguing resemblance of real war work. It also Is fascinating and interesting, in-teresting, because there Is nothing but advanced work of all kinds here aerial acrobatics, aerial gunnery, night bombing and formation flights. "I have seen more than 100 plants many thousands of feet in the air. in perfect formation, at one time. It is a beautiful sight. Tomorrow we go on a long hike."