Leaving Dijon within two hours for the Front. Looks like the Alsace Lorraine country – 35000 – U. S. A. In Paris today. Well and happy. Will write from "out there".
Love, Byrl.
Letter
Friday the 13th, July 1917
(NOTE: An edited version of this letter appeared in the August 10 issue of the PLAINVIEW NEWS.)
"Somewhere in France"
Dear Folks,
At last your first letter and paper of June 19th just arrived. The letter no doubt has been following our sec.-62 from place to place until it has found us. Just about two months after my departure from home. It is needless to say that your letter was read and reread many times. A good old American stamp looked might good.
Since my last letter or card rather from _____, many interesting things have taken place. In the first place we are out in it. The first night here at our headquarters I walked one half miles to the birth place of Pres. Poincare of France. Just think of the last line a minute. The birth place of Poincare. He is a very great man, as it were. I wonder if you still read the interesting volumes Dad bought for us several years ago. Those fine old black covered books with everything in them from A to Z. Edwin Jr. liked to read them once in a while if I am correct.
Our Sec. 62 is a very good one. Our French Leu. is very good to us. The leader of our sector, Mr. Pierce, is a Boston man and fine to get along with. We are also very lucky to have with us two expert French cooks from a Paris hotel. Our food is plain, but very good. This is, it hits the spot. All our cars are Fiat make – brand new ones just from the factory – with four speeds ahead and a wonderful oiling system.
Now if our sleeping quarters could be taken care of the same way as the food, all would be "rosy" but in our work, beds are seldom found. For the past month not a bed spring in France has held me up during quiet slumbers. At present our habitat is an old barn. It took quite a while to get used to the fleas and bed bugs, the rats running over your back. (Even "Ma’s" rat poison could not check the vermin). But now all these companions are not noticed, in fact I rather like them. Shall I train a few and bring them home?
Yesterday – July 12 – I had my first experience at a rush hospital (that is one which acts as a central point to send the men back to base hospitals.) Twenty men in our section were called out to do twenty-four hours of work, which means very little sleep. The cars line up in rotation, as the wounded are carried in. It is our duty to rush them back to Base Hospitals – as it happened I was placed on car Number one with a Minneapolis man by the name of Gregory – A Shriner (Zurah). A fine fellow to work with. During the afternoon and all night we had three trips carrying twenty-one men. No lights are allowed on the cars because of planes. And it is necessary to drive fast – but careful – if possible. While out here I have seen some very interesting sights. Only this A. M. I saw five French and two Bosche planes engage in a wonderful air battle, concerning which I will tell you sometime later. Also saw four captive balloons and various other modern devices of warfare.
No one who has not been over here during the war can ever realize what is going on. Not until one is able to see with his own eyes will he believe that men, human beings, are being taken away day and night. A few of the sights I saw last night will never be forgotten. Men, bloody and mud-caked, jaws set, enduring killing pain. One case upset me for just a few moments. We had a hurry call. Our man was on the stretcher just as he was brought in. As we picked him up, in the moonlight he was softly moaning. He opened his glassy eyes, the tears started to trickle down and he looked about ready to give up. Looking down I saw that both his feet were gone. I tell you there was one ambulance that took the bumps might slow that night. But then these things are all in the game. There seems to be no other way.

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