ENPages
26
good time, and easy time. But the uncertainty of everything, and not knowing what to expect next kept us always in a stew.
I had some good times in St. Maxient and around there. My trip to Niort on April 6th was a dandy, and the following week, April 13th the football trip to Bressuire are very pleasant rememberances. Then we had some good parties down town, and also some good Phi. Kap. parties. At one time there were as many as eight Phi. Kaps. from different parts of the
27
country there.
All in all I was very fortunate there, and have nothing to complane about, compared with some of the others. I only walked guard once, and was only on fatigue twice, and of the two times I was a corporal. I never was on K.P or any of the most disagreeable jobs. But thank God. I am out of there and at flying school.
I wrote these remebrances at St. Maxient at Tours. June 2nd '18. Before copying my diary that I started when we left for
28
Gondrecourt there are two more days in St. M. to remember. They were very cold and wet, and disagreeable, and it was impossible to find a warm place, but I wrote a letter that taxed my mental ability to the utmost. These two days were March 1st and 2nd '18.
Tuesday Apr. 23 '18 Went on the rifle range for the first time. They didn't get around to me so I didn't shoot. When we got back at noon it was rumored that we might leave that night for Gondrecourt. Orders came at 4 o'clock
29
to leave. Left St. M. at 7:31 and arrived at Portiers at 10 P.M. Left Portiers at 4:16 in the morning on a special car. We had hopes of going through Paris, but we got fooled.
Wednesday Apr. 24 '18. Passed through Tours, Orleons, then we turned East.
Thrusday Apr. 25 '18. I horned in with our officers and got a good nights sleep. Slept but a very little the night before. Arrived at Troys about 7 A.M. Went through an emense French Army bakery. Left Troys at
Page 30
11.45 A.M. All the rest of the day we passed troop trains of Italians and French about every twelve minutes. They are headed for the Amer. Front, but I doubt if that is their final destination. This is the largest movemne of troops that I have seen. Passed through Chaumont. Went onto Langres. Arrived about 5 P.M. Out car is not to leave unti 4:41 or 7 A.M. tomorrow. Can't find out for sure which of the two different times that we are to leaver at. Langres is a beautiful town built on a high