WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES NOVEMBER 11, 2021 31
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD: THE WAY IT WAS
retreat. Our boys brought the Boche
to a dead stop, and one day we made
up our combat packs, and with two
day’s ration of bacon and hardtack
and a quart of water, we went
forward to the line and at 5 o’clock
went over the top. There were no
trenches, for this is open warfare.
We had just one wave of two lines,
the men 5 paces apart, and the
second line to the rear of the first.
Well we pushed them back about 1
½ miles in our sector, taking a town
with it. Pop, it was something that
will remain in my memory forever.
Some of my best friends have fallen,
never to rise again, God bless
them. Some are wounded beyond
recovery, and others will be minus
different members of their bodies.
I’ll never forget, for I was in the
open field, they turned machine
guns mounted in the church steeple
on us. There was practically no
cover, and the bullets were snapping
and cutting down the wheat
around us. Several of the boys saw
their last there, and some were
wounded.
There was a powerful machinegun
nest situated on a hill in the
woods a few yards to my left. It was
charged again and again without
avail and at great cost. So we
pushed the line on further, isolating
and thereby cutting off this
hellhole from supplies. We pushed
on to the other side of the town, and
took a position in an open field.
Talk about ambition, when a fellow
has to dig himself in for protection
against lead and pig iron, then
is the time the dirt flies. Those who
were lucky enough to draw a pick or
shovel, others used their bayonets
and mess tins.
Well, it was night by this time,
and all went well except when
the Boche artillery got busy on us
which lessened our numbers a few
more. All went well the next day,
but the following night we held off
a counter-attack successfully and
without loss, and early in the morning
were relieved by an Engineer
Company, and went back in support.
Another spasm of digging in
for self-preservation ensued.
Well, there is a good deal I could
tell would pass the censor, Pop, but
it makes too long a letter. The fact
remains that I went through the
battle, even in the first line, and
came out without a scratch.
I can’t say, Pop, whether we are
going back to the line again, or going
to be relieved, but I really think
we will be relieved. We have done
our bit and more than our share
for which we have been cited twice
by the French Government, and we
rate a rest and relief. Where are all
those troops in France? Do the regiments,
the 5th and 6th, have to do
it all? We already have the honor
of being the first line of the first
drive the States have made, and
we gained our objective.
Some German prisoners say that
they were retreating in disorder,
and with a few thousand more men
we could have pushed them away
back. Some prisoners, it is said,
were waiting for the Americans
to come over, so that they could be
taken prisoner.
Well, let’s change the subject. I
think I’ll be able to write oftener
now, for there is some pretty good
dope going around. Got a letter
from Walter two days ago, also one
from most everybody. How is this
- got a letter from you, Pop, from
Aunt Mary and Aunt Helen, just
before the battle. Believe me, Pop, it
brightened me right up and I had
lots of pep.
The Red Cross sure is doing fine
work. They supply us with chocolates,
and peaches, and nuts and
smokes. That Tobacco Fund sure
is good too. We don’t get them very
often, but about twice a month. Pop,
I can’t write to everyone, but please
remember me to all the folks and
men at home, also Uncle Herman
and the girls. I sure am in good
health now and hope to remain so.
Faithfully, Eddie
The letter was passed by the
censor, E.E. Kalbfleisch, 1st Lieut.
U.S.M.C.
The photograph shows Private Edward
Kahrs, United States Marine
Corps. He had blonde curly hair
which was covered by his Marine
Corps hat. Thankfully, he returned
from France in good health except
for some of his fingers which subsequently
ached due to being frozen
during the fighting in France.
The Old Timer is forever grateful
to Mrs. Seelig for the photograph,
and the letters of Edward Kahrs.
* * *
If you have any remembrances or
old photographs of “Our Neighborhood:
The Way It Was” that you would
like to share with our readers, please
write to the Old Timer, c/o Ridgewood
Times, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY
11361, or send an email to editorial@
ridgewoodtimes.com. Any print photographs
mailed to us will be carefully
returned to you upon request.
Private Edward Kahrs
/WWW.QNS.COM
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