Chapter 5

June 14, 1918

We stand reveille at 5:40 a. m. After each corporal has checked his squad and reported the absentees if there is any, the platoon is dismissed (we stand reveille by platoons and there are five platoons in a company). We then prepare for breakfast which the acting mess sergeant says will be an hour late. Taking soap and towel we go to the well that stands in the yard next to a fence and while one fellow draws the water the other one washes. For breakfast we get one slice of bread, one small slice of meat, coffee and a tablespoonful of oatmeal. After breakfast we clean our rifles and bayonets and get them in a shape to be inspected by the platoon lieutenant. At 11:30 a. m. the lieutenant makes the inspection and is not very well pleased with the condition our rifles and bayonets are in. He orders another inspection to be held at an early date and dismissed us. After dinner a crowd of us fellows go to Licques, a nearby little village that is larger than Herbinghen, and spend the afternoon. There are several English soldiers stationed in this village and we succeed in finding an English canteen where we can buy some cigarettes. We meet several French girls who are able to speak some English and we attempt to carry on a conversation with them but they are bashful and won't talk to us. I succeed in getting one of them to talk to me by questioning her about the prices of the postcards she has on display (we are in an estaminent). Getting her to talk I soon drop the postcard subject and question her as to what she thinks of the United States and she says "Amerique tray bon," which means that the States is a good country. We all return to Herbinghen in time for supper. Those who are lucky enough to have paper write home after supper. In writing letters our chief worry is about the censor, wondering whether he would pass our letters or not. On the back of our envelopes we put "Somewhere in France." We are not allowed to tell anything about what we intend to do or where we are. We tell the folks that we are in France and that we are well and that we are enjoying ourselves. We tell of meeting the French and some of their customs.

June 15, 1918

The morning is spent in cleaning and oiling our rifles and bayonets, and laying our equipment out for inspection. At 1 p. m., our platoon lieutenant again inspects our rifles and bayonets, and this time he seems satisfied with the shape they were in. In the afternoon the company is marched to Licques, where it gets its first oversea bath. English soldiers have charge of the bath house, keeping fires and hot water all day. This bath did us a lot of good as we had not had a bath since leaving the States. Twelve men bathe at the time and while the last bunch is bathing the other fellows stroll about the village. I go inside of a church and am impressed with the beautiful paintings hanging on the walls. The outside of the church is old and odd looking. Returning to Herbinghen, I go to a nearby estaminent and write three letters to the folks at home, having very little to say as the censor's rules are very strict. I deal with subjects altogether unmilitary, telling about how the French farm and what they chiefly raise. I am not allowed to tell the name of the place I am in, but put on the back of the envelope in its place "Somewhere in France." As darkness soon comes I cut my letters with a few lines as we are not allowed to have a light after dark.

June 16, 1918

We have reveille as usual, 5:40 a. m. Three fellows from the fourth platoon miss this formation and are given extra duty. As a hole to throw garbage (we are not allowed to throw any trash or waste of any kind on the ground. Instead it is dumped in a hole and covered) in is badly needed. Three first sergeant details these three reveille missers to dig a hole five feet by five, better known to men who have been on extra duty as "five by five." At 9 a. m., our regimental chaplain sends a notice to each company that he is going to conduct a religious service at 10:30 a. m., and invites every one out. At the appointed hour a large percentage of the fellows gather in a little grove of trees between our kitchen and billets, where it has been decided to hold the service, and prepare for the chaplain. A fallen tree is selected for the pulpit. The chaplain soon arrives and the service is started by a prayer. Then the chaplain in a few words explains to us the object of the meeting. Singing follows. Old songs known by heart are sung as we are unable to get any song books. After his short sermon is delivered, the chaplain discusses with us fellows his plans for making life more enjoyable while we are stationed in Herbinghen. He announces that he intends to open a writing room for our benefit by 4 p. m., but the room is opened sooner than was expected and after dinner scores of the fellows go to the writing room and write letters home as paper, pen and ink can be gotten here. The writing room is in one of the homes of the French and was formerly used as a drinking room. The owners of the house gladly let us have it and refuses to accept any rent. The room is crowded again after supper with fellows who have been waiting for such an opportunity to write home.

June 17, 1918

I go on the sick report to get some medicine - pills of course -- for a cold. The medical officer in charge of the infirmary, Major Campbell, marks me light duty. The first sergeant sends me on two errands and that is all I have to do for the day. I write two letters in the morning and stay in bed all the afternoon.