|
2/ 5/19
Today is another red-letter day so far as hard luck is concerned. I lost one whole week on account of no labor so decided that something must be done. I went over and plead with the Cap. of Co. L - 807th P. Inf for labor. After promising to give his men a little lecture on the dangers of amm. - etc. he agreed to let me have 62 men - but made it clearly understood that he did'nt want any of his men hurt. Well I got two trucks and started them out. About an hour later one of my Cpls. (Castello) -- knocked on my door - came in - and reported that he had just taken one of the men from the 807th to the hospital after an explosion. It was thought his eye was put out - and a bad cut on the chin. Later on I sent over to the Hosp. to get the XRay report - and found his injuries to be of a minor nature -as the cut was under the eye.
I went over and explained the matter to Co.L. officers - and was glad to tell them that I would'nt need their men any more - as Co. B. 339th Labor Bn. had pulled into Verdun in the meantime and the Major said I could use any number of his men - up to 200.
So now I have all the men I want - and three big trucks -- every thing fine - but the weather - 4 ½ " snow - and colder 'n -- -- .
2/15/19
At last area #26 N.E. of Verdun -- the two months nightmare - is finished and this A.M. found the first truck load of my men on their way to Lavoye. The other half I sent out to blow up 4000 llbs. of dynamite before we left. They blew it up alright -- together with a telegraph pole - and all lines of communication between Verdun and Etain. I notified the R.T.C. of the broken wires - and the remainder of "my munkeys" left for our new station.
I had quite a time with the French Major getting all my billitting reports made out - before leaving. My furniture was the next question. -- the Y.M.C.A. young lady - got most of it.
This is an awful camp at Lavoye -- nothing but a mud hole. The men go to work in trucks - at the Rarecourt dump. I am living in a little elephant iron shack with Lt. McNamee.
2/20/19
Went to Verdun today to see Lt. Tuttle - and Miss Sherrar (I think that's the way to spell it.) - Ate dinner with Lt. Tuttle - and we made a record trip of 35 mins. back from Verdun. Lt. Gage kept the "Flivver" wide open most of the way.
2/21/19
Was taken up to the hospital at Froidas today - as the result of a joy-party last night. Lts. Oldfield - McNamee - Gage and myself gave a party in honor of Lt. Oldfields new daughter -- of which he just rec'd a picture. There were no lights on our Ford so I played "light" and rode the radiator - to let them know whether or not we were on the road. This arrangement worked fine until another Ford - going about 15 or 20 per hit us - head-on. I found myself over on the side of the road after a 20 ft. flight thru the air. I found out that my leg was not broken - so I mounted the radiator again - and our muchly broken up Ford proceeded upon its journey. -- Couldn't sleep that night - so went up to the hospital to learn that I had strained a muscle in my hip -- Nothing serious.
|
