LETTER FROM CHAPLAIN WILLIAMS OF THE FORESTRY UNITS 



TV/TR- P- S. RIDSDALE, Treasurer of the Welfare 

 *-'-* Fund for Lumbermen and Foresters in War Ser- 

 vice, has received a very interesting letter and report 

 from Chaplain Howard Y. Williams, formerly of the 

 Tenth Engineers (Forest). Chaplain Williams has re- 

 cently been designated Senior Chaplain of the Forestry 

 Units, with headquarters at Tours. In' writing to Mr. 

 Ridsdale, he said: "Your Fund has been a blessing." 

 His letter and report are both reproduced here because 

 they are full of interest, despite the cessation of hostilities. 



Division of Forestry 

 Office of the Senior Chaplain 



A. P. O. 717, France 



November 27, 1918. 

 Dear Friends : 



Have just come back to Tours after a two weeks' trip of 

 inspection and unlike so many previous times, now that the 

 censorship is reduced I can tell you all about it. Among the 

 30,000 soldiers that I am father for, we have had a large num- 

 ber with the First and Second Armies at the front. With the 

 armistice on and the changes resulting I had to go over our 

 field there to reassign chaplains, etc. I left for Paris the 

 second day after the armistice was signed and so got in for 

 a half day of their celebration. Unless you have been here 

 for a year, like I have, you cannot imagine the change that 

 has taken place in the appearance and spirit of the people. It 

 is wonderful, the new sunshine that has shed itself every- 

 where. Even the cities themselves show the change, with 

 their flags, arches, etc., but most of all the lights on the streets 

 in the evenings. I have stumbled all over myself and others 

 in the streets of Paris on the dark nights that have passed, 

 but never again. The whole place is ablaze, and all the other 

 cities and towns have followed suit. Parades were every- 

 where, but the funniest of all were those French girls who 

 would march down the streets, a number of them arm in 

 arm. Spying some Americans they would circle around them 

 and repeat, "Do your duty!" "Do your duty!" This meant 

 that we must kiss them all. Well, that was some celebration. 



The next day found me at Chaumont, where we have our 

 General Headquarters, and where a branch of my section is 

 located. After a day there of consultation and plans I was 

 on my way in a big Sunbeam auto and with a good chauffeur 

 to the stamping grounds of the two armies. All the way along 

 the road were thousands of troops marching to and from 

 the old battle front. Many were coming back for rest, but 

 other regiments of infantry, cavalry, and artillery were on 

 their way to Germany. The roads were thick with the battle- 

 scarred French on their way to Metz. As you can well im- 

 agine the expression of the faces were very different from 

 those I have seen when men were marching to the trenches. 

 Another sight pitiful and yet joyful was the hundreds of 

 prisoners returning from Germany. As you know they were 

 just free and had to shift for themselves. They wore every- 

 thing imaginable, and carrying all sorts of boxes and packs 

 they made a strange sight meandering along singly sometimes, 

 and then by twos and threes, and crowds. They were directed 

 to great stockades, once used for German prisoners. There 

 every man had to take a bath and go through the louse 

 exterminator. Afterwards they were fitted out by the Ameri- 

 can Quartermaster with what was lacking in their needs, and 

 then they jogged on their way again, until finally they should 

 hit the railroad. They were now even an odder looking sight 

 for old French, British, and German uniforms were added to 

 by American. A man would have an American hat and 

 blanket topping off an old French uniform, or perhaps instead 

 of the hat khaki breeches used between French blue leggings 

 and a French coat. It was some sight, but they were happy 

 and that was sufficient. Most of the Americans had only been 

 there a short time and it had been a lark to them. After 

 the first few months few Americans had been taken. The 

 men had fought until the last, and never gave in. 



Thus I went through Toul, over to Nancy, then by the 

 remains of St. Mihiel, Verdun, etc. I visited my men still 

 living in their dug outs in what was once No Man's Land. I 

 had taken some phonographs along and new records from 

 friends in the States. It did seem odd to hear the music being 

 played when outside all was torn to pieces, woods were shat- 

 tered, only stumps remaining, barb wire stretches everywhere 



until one would think there had never been so much in all 

 the world. We have had seyeral groups of engineers working 

 in the Argonne Forest, where the Americans did their best 

 and hardest fighting. It almost seemed sacred ground when 

 I thought of the price that had been paid to gain it. Where 

 before the shells flew and raged, now all was quiet. Our 

 companies are all through and right up to the Hindenburg 

 line and beyond to where the last days found us. We leisurely 

 strolled through German trenches which they had thought 

 were secure forever. Made of concrete, the officers had pool 

 tables, baths, and then chicken and rabbit coops for the means 

 of dainty needs. How we fooled them. When one sees the 

 damage that German shells did to us, he wonders how more 

 could be done, but when one goes over that Hindenburg line 

 and on to see what we did to them he sees that more. The 

 land in these quiet days looks as though tornadoes and earth- 

 quakes had tossed and rocked her to the utmost. Towns have 

 not a wall left standing. Trees are cut and stand only in 

 shreds. Here and there are those machine gun nests which 

 took such deadly toll. You hardly notice them as they lie 

 covered under little mounds of grass, but careful observation 

 reveals the slit in the concrete through which they pour their 

 deadly hail. One near St. Mihiel was the worst I have seen. It 

 was at a cross-corner and covered three roads. It looked like 

 an innocent mound decorating the street corner, but a close- 

 up view showed the opening which covered the surrounding 

 country. We leisurely visited the trenches and picked up 

 enough souvenirs to start a small war of our own, guns, 

 shells, German helmets, pieces of barb wire, etc.. Will have 

 plenty to show you when I return. 



Many are the friends that I f.ave renewed acquaintance 

 with again on this trip. My heart always beat a little faster 

 when I ran across men from my old regiment, the Tenth 

 Engineers, who have been promoted and commissioned and 

 are doing work with other units. I sort of feel as though we 

 were brothers. Then I saw Croyle and Davis of my days at 

 Union, and Heinzman of the days at Iowa. So it was 

 wherever I went, I ran into some of the friends of by-gone 

 days. Then on Sunday last I arranged to spend the day with 

 one of my old companies. I had three meetings and it was 

 some re-union. My regiment is going back sometime in late 

 December. How I should like to go with them. I telegraphed 

 to G. H. of my desires but also of my willingness to remain 

 if they thought it for the best interests of these engineers 

 who look to me as their senior chaplain. The word came 

 back, "You should remain," and so for two or three months 

 or longer I shall continue on the job here. I now have sixteen 

 chaplains assisting me, but expect to have twenty-five soon. 

 The men who are going home are of course delighted, and 

 the men who must stay are down-cast. Of course we would 

 all like to come home, but there is work still to be done here, 

 and as I am well acquainted with the field I am ready to stay 

 and do my best, always looking, however, for the day when I 

 shall be off for Hoboken and home. 



Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas will soon be here. 

 Surely we had more to be thankful for than we dreamed even 

 a month before. We are proud of you at home and the 

 splendid way in which you have backed us up. Am sure that 

 you have found joy in service well done, even as we here 

 have done. My heartiest wishes for the Merriest Christmas 

 and a New Year resplendent in opportunities of service in the 

 spirit of Christ, our Saviour.. 



Faithfully your friend, 



Howard Y. Williams, Senior Chaplain, U. S. A. 



To keep up our pep it has been my purpose to publish once 

 a month such a news sheet as the following. Our immediate de- 

 parture makes our first effort the last. G. H. has asked me to 

 remain here in my capacity as Senior Chaplain for Forestry 

 Units, and so I shall not be with you on the return trip, much as 

 I should like to be. In spirit I shall be with you. 



May our Heavenly Father bless you all richly as you go back 

 to civil life. I shall hope to see you all in later days, and shall 

 always be glad to hear from you at 3326 Oakland Avenue, 

 Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just remember that I am ready at any 

 time to marry you to that "best girl in the U. S. A." 



I shall always count my experiences with you as very precious. 

 Good-bye ! God-speed ! 



Howard Y. Williams, Senior Chaplain, Forestry Units. 



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