Brocourt,
France, Nov. 24, 1918
Dear Father:
I will write
you a few lines and tell you how I am getting along and some things about the
places I have seen since I left Camp Lewis, Wash.
The censor has
quit his job, so we can write pretty near anything we want to now.
Well, I am as
well as ever and am getting along fine. We are at a camp about 10 miles from
Verdun now and have been here for about three weeks waiting for orders to move
either to Germany or back to the good old U. S. A. The Statue of Liberty will
look good to us when we come back. That was the last thing we could see when we
left the United States. We left New York July 14 and landed in Liverpool, Eng.,
July 26, having been on the boat thirteen days, and very long days they were,
too. We then rode the train across England to Southampton, where we got on a
boat again that took us across the channel to Havre, France. Here we got on a
train and went down into the southern part of France where we stayed for about
three months learning the finer points about this artillery work.
Our regiment is
motorized and is equipped with 6-inch rifles.
We got up to
the front just 36 hours before they quit fighting, so we never got a chance to
fire a shot at the enemy. We all felt as if we had missed something, for we had
worked and trained so long to get ready. We are expert artillery men, too, and
did excellent work on the range. The French are supposed to be noted for their
marksmanship with the big guns but they got real jealous when they saw us
shoot. They furnished the targets and we shot them all to pieces.
We are located
in a very dreary lonesome camp now. It is miles away from any towns. There are
towns close by but here out they are so shot up that they are of no account
anyway, and there is no Y.C.M.A. anywhere either, so we have no place to write
letters except in our billet on top of our bunks and that’s a very punk place
to write letters.
There are some
rumors around that we are going to Germany in a few days, but I hope they’re
wrong and that they will send us home instead.
I will close
for this time, hoping this letter finds you all well, and best wishes for a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Your loving son, FRANK SODERQUIST, Batt. F. 348 F. A., A.E.F., France
Editor’s Note: We do not have a photograph of Frank Soderquist.
Posted: February 23, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Fourth Liberty Loan Requirements, Renville County Journal, 11-8-1918
Renville County is required to raise $54,000 in the United War Fund Campaign between Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. Figure 5 per cent of the allotment for the Fourth Liberty Loan and pay your share with a smile. Not a dollar of your money ever did more good. Give generously and give cheerfully. Give with the same spirit of sacrifice as the boys who are dying for us that we may well make possible the winning of the war in this last great drive toward Berlin. Our boys are moving toward Berlin. Our boys are moving toward Berlin with an accelerating velocity. But for them to get there requires our undivided and unstinted backing. In spite of rumors of an armistice and an early peace the war is not yet over. And even though a victorious peace may soon be reached it will take many months before our men can all be returned home and returned to the useful and productive occupations of peace. Time will hang heavily and it will be for us to say how these fours shall be filled. It is for us to determine whether they shall be filled carelessly and recklessly and in a manner destructive to character and manhood or they shall be filled with influences which are calculated to hold the boys steadily in the paths of clean, righteous and useful lives. Consider the best and lasting effects upon the boys and throw the purse-strings wide open in this very important drive to raise money with which to carry on essential work among our boys who have gone to the war.
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Posted: February 23, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Private Edward M Burdick, Renville Star Farmer, 11-14-1918
November 20, 1896 – October 12, 1918
Private Edward M. Burdick was the youngest son of Frank and Bridget Burdick and was born in Sisseton, S.D. November 20th, 1896. Losing his mother at the tender age of three years he came to live with the John Branick family, that being the last wish of his mother who was Mr. Branick’s cousin. There he lived and grew to manhood until May 5th, 1918 when he answered the call of the colors and enlisted in the marines, going to Paris Island, South Carolinia. Later he was sent to Quantico, Virginia from where he sailed August 1st for France. There he gave his life for his country, October 12. He leaves to mourn his death his foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Branick, four brothers and one sister, John of Lemmon, S.D., Bernard of Camp Lewis, Washington, Leo of Camp Funston, Kansas, Joe and Marietta of Bristol, S.D. He was a young man of excellent character and manly habits and will be greatly missed by his many friends.
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Posted: February 23, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Joseph Malacek, Olivia Times, 11-14-1918
December 4, 1894 – November 6, 1918
The sad news of the death at Camp Cody, N.M. of Joseph Malacek was received last week by relatives of the deceased. The young man left Olivia with the last quota of drafted men a few weeks ago and shortly after reaching camp was taken down with pneumonia. His remains were shipped back home by way of North Redwood and the funeral took place from the Bechyn Catholic church. The deceased was about 23 years of age and was well thought of in the community in which he lived. He was kind-hearted, industrious and of good habits and his death is mourned by his many friends and associates in Henryville. His death in the springtime of manhood when the future looked so bright and promising is extremely sad, but there is a consolation to his friends and relatives in the thought that he gave his life for his country and that he fills a patriot’s grave. He leaves to mourn his death, his parents and a number of brothers and sisters. One brother, John Malacek, is in the army service, and being home on a furlough at the time of Joseph’s death, was able to be present at the funeral.
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Posted: February 23, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Frank Soderquist, Renville County Journal, 12-27-1918
Brocourt, France, Nov. 24, 1918
Dear Father:
I will write you a few lines and tell you how I am getting along and some things about the places I have seen since I left Camp Lewis, Wash.
The censor has quit his job, so we can write pretty near anything we want to now.
Well, I am as well as ever and am getting along fine. We are at a camp about 10 miles from Verdun now and have been here for about three weeks waiting for orders to move either to Germany or back to the good old U. S. A. The Statue of Liberty will look good to us when we come back. That was the last thing we could see when we left the United States. We left New York July 14 and landed in Liverpool, Eng., July 26, having been on the boat thirteen days, and very long days they were, too. We then rode the train across England to Southampton, where we got on a boat again that took us across the channel to Havre, France. Here we got on a train and went down into the southern part of France where we stayed for about three months learning the finer points about this artillery work.
Our regiment is motorized and is equipped with 6-inch rifles.
We got up to the front just 36 hours before they quit fighting, so we never got a chance to fire a shot at the enemy. We all felt as if we had missed something, for we had worked and trained so long to get ready. We are expert artillery men, too, and did excellent work on the range. The French are supposed to be noted for their marksmanship with the big guns but they got real jealous when they saw us shoot. They furnished the targets and we shot them all to pieces.
We are located in a very dreary lonesome camp now. It is miles away from any towns. There are towns close by but here out they are so shot up that they are of no account anyway, and there is no Y.C.M.A. anywhere either, so we have no place to write letters except in our billet on top of our bunks and that’s a very punk place to write letters.
There are some rumors around that we are going to Germany in a few days, but I hope they’re wrong and that they will send us home instead.
I will close for this time, hoping this letter finds you all well, and best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Your loving son, FRANK SODERQUIST, Batt. F. 348 F. A., A.E.F., France
Editor’s Note: We do not have a photograph of Frank Soderquist.
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Posted: February 23, 2019 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Letter from Clarence Hassinger, Morton Enterprise, 12-27-1918
December 6, 1896 – December 25, 1983
Periguiux, France, Dec. 4, 1918
Dear Mother and All,
Well, I have a little time this morning so will try and write you a few lines to let you know I am well and still feeling fine. Hope that my letter finds you still the same. I guess now that this war is about over I can tell you a little more about my experience. First I will tell about my trip. We left Camp Upton on June 4, and went to Hoboken, N.J., where we went aboard the old German boat now the Aeclus. We sailed on the morning of June 7th. We were on the water eleven days landing at Brest, France, on the morning of June 18th. Gee, but that was a grand sight to see land, although we had a splendid trip and I only hope that the returning trip will be as enjoyable.
We left Brest on Sunday morning, June 23, arrived at our present camp, Periguiux, on June 25th and have been here most of the time. I was on detached service for a couple of months but was glad to get back with the bunch once more.
I received the two papers you sent me day before yesterday and enjoyed reading them very much.
Well, I suppose the weather in old Minnesota is pretty cold by this time. We still continue to receive our share of rain. They say that the weather begins to get warm again in January here. I sincerely hope it is true as under the conditions I don’t care to see much cold weather. You know the brakeman doesn’t have any caboose or fireman’s seat-box to ride over here. He has to ride out on some open car most of the time and sometimes, especially at night, it gets pretty cold. Well, mother, I don’t know very much news so I guess I will close for this time. Hoping to hear from you very soon,
With lots of love, Pvt. Clarence Hassinger, Co. A. 52 Regt. T.C., A.E.F., A.P.O. 794
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