"The Motor Transportation Service is a wonderful unit,
being classed as second highest branch of service the American
Army has; Aviation ranking first. Without the motor unit
the Infantry and Artillery would have been void, as they relied
on trucks for conveying ammunition as well as rations. Many were
the times that we boys hauled rations all day and then were called
at night to transport troops or convey ammunition, driving all
night long without a single light over strange roads, badly rent
from shell and German time-mines. I have driven as long as three
nights and two days without sleep except what I stole while the
truck was being either loaded or unloaded. A Motor Supply Train
consists of six motor-truck companies, with twenty-seven trucks
to a company, and on each truck a driver and an assistant, who
rides the rear end of the truck, acting as scout for the truck
behind, also guarding the load of his own truck.
"We arrived at Brest on Aug. 25th, and three days after
we were transported by rail to the Verdun front, where our
occupation as soldiers began and continued to the signing
of the Armistice. Just before the Armistice our train had been
under German shell-fire for eight days and nights; no gasoline
and provisions had been exhausted the third day; so we all lived
on was that which the retreating Germans could not transport
quickly. Our main camp was always guarded by aeroplane and most
all hours of the night one could hear them soaring overhead,
keeping off the intruder with his hated destructive bombs. On
several occasions we had the pleasure of watching an aerial battle
over our camp; which is a wonderful sight. Our hardest experience
was driving at night with a gas-mask on.
"The year of 1919 finds us in good spirits as well as
health."