Show the 91 I 1 division has been going some le forte bernard france jan 6 1919 mrs B J lund A st george utah dearest mother and all just a few lines to again let you know that I 1 am well and getting along 0 k last night I 1 got a letter from you dated nov 8 although it was two months old still it was welcome and I 1 was glad to again hear from home our division arethas area has been rather unsettled consequently our mal I 1 has been slow getting to us while we A were in belgium it came rily until we began moving then it was held first one place then another but now expect a bunch of mall mail within the next few days day I 1 was sorry to hear of the death ot of sterling russell and lyle has my sympathy he however like thousands of others gave his life for the cause of right and died for a noble cause mrs keate has my sympathy also and hope that the report will turn out that he was only missing from his company when the casual reports were made and that by now she has heard from him however there are a good many ways in which death can come about and no record be shown of the individual you said that I 1 just tell you enough to make you anxious to hear more this undoubtedly has been so as its the censor laws were quite strict lunell after the armistice and conveniences for or writing were poor eo so all I 1 tried to let you know was that I 1 was still 0 k I 1 will give you a little idea of my trip now and tell you more when I 1 get home I 1 left new york july 7 on an bengt eng now lish transport after 2 days tr travel avela ing fog we reached the harbor at halifax where we landed for nearly 48 hours when we ve left with a company of 18 transports american and canadian soldiers and convoyed by 4 submarine chasers and one hydroplane for or aerial observation this protection was wits with us for or two days when we were left to our own destiny everything was fine for about ia 10 or 12 days when the monotony was broken by our flag ship spying a periscope several shots were word fired but no bo on one knew the effect from then on everyone was anxious for our convoy of destroyers to show api upi up one night the good news was passed that ships were in iii sight one after another they showed up on the horizon until 20 had come to show us thru thrall the danger zone our fleet then made a wonderful picture on the water with 18 transports and 20 convoys convoy next morning our destination mas as given as le harve france on the morning of july 22 we placed our feet on the eoll soft of france having been 15 daya days on the water here we found out we were in war rather than at war I 1 will tell you about rest camp tso no 2 when I 1 return home the next move was a long one crowded up in box cars we went to a small town back of the lines for training where we stayed until about sept 1 when we began moving located one morning itt in heavy woods well concealed from aerial observation we were told that we were in reserve and may be called any time to strengthen the lines so to get as much rest aa as possible this was the most successful drive and the let destructive tive american offensive of the war known aa is the san ahiel drive after two days in tha the woods we learned that the drive waa was a success and we moved to another sector traveling always by night and beeping keeping under cover during the day on the morning of sept 26 at the heaviest artillery barrage of the war i was put out over and the division went over the top too we were un der constant shell fire lire and amid the horrors of war fighting ahead until late at night oct 4 when we were relieved and moved back in previous ioui no mans land which our division had taken during the offensive where we remained in support for two days when this battaglion bat tallion went back to a rest area the rest consisted in being again equipped with clothes and other equipment needing ment meat one ono morning about a week A later we ware were told to be ready to march with equipment at 11 at night after alter an hours hiking we again boarded the box cars we wera were off but no one knew where to after two daya days traveling on the train ae a arjo ea near arts lyro Bieh pL T N wim w the heavy fighting and final stopping ot of the german invasion in fiel gium the german front line then being farther back after two days rest we again started on the huns hung trail passing over the old battlefields and old ruins and coming nearer the front and seeing the recent ruins aud and devastation wrought by the enemy of civilization the hun after several moves each night being scared to death by air raids and they do scare a fellow we left our trucks under heavy shell fire our division was again mixed up in the quarrel this offensive lasted from oct 30 to nov 4 when we were relieved for rest nov 11 at 7 we again moved forward to take position another objective having been assigned our division at about 9 all movement of troops ceased the roar of the guns were not heard the soldiers were glad and the citizens began returning to their devastated homes we billi billiter ted at Auder in vacant homes but by the we had families on our bands hands refugees had returned to see what they bad had left A glad band hand was given us and we occupied their homes with them since then mother we have been wondering what was next gradually moving back until finally me came here overland via the route I 1 gave in the letter to cornelia the other night you might let mr wallis read this letter up to this point if you like and tell him I 1 appreciate what he has done but have been too busy to write we are located more comfortably now than any time since leaving the states and receiving good food plenty of bedding and well housed are receiving everything we need in clothes and everyone feels that we ve will soon be heading toward the states dont worry nor work too hard and take good care of yourself and I 1 will soon be with you and write often e love to all good night sergt thomas lund co B ai ca G fin A E ar F A P 0 7 7 9 |