Search billions of records on Ancestry.com
   

Brodhead's Tribute to her Men of the Service

1914-1918

Compiled by The Civics Club

©1921 Brodhead, Wisconsin (Cantwell Printing Co., Madison, Wis.)


Extracts from Letters of the Boys With the Colors

(Copied from Newspapers)
From Sergeant Burdette Purdy (p. 119)

Somewhere in France, Aug. 8, 1918.

"Just a line in spite of the fact that I haven't written for a long time. You see we have been a mighty busy lot of fellows,
but the Boche have been a lot busier than we. Now the line has been straightened and they are back again so I hope the boys can get a much needed rest. We went so fast at times that our kitchens couldn't keep up with us and eating was out of the question.
"I was wounded on the 31st of July in the right upper thigh, the bullet going through and coming out through my canteen.
On the 3rd of August I was on the operating table, but now am feeling fine. Can was a little but am still quite weak. In a few weeks I hope to be back with the boys again as good as new. I sure was lucky for when I fell they were hitting the hill like rain and how I escaped at all is more than I can understand. You see we are advancing against positions held by machine guns and the Boche were trying to stop us by shelling the hill.
"Shortly after I was hit I attempted to crawl for shelter and the only thing that saved me was a ditch. After dark I
crawled by to first aid for there were lots who needed carrying worse than I did. I met some fellows from Racine in the Dressing Station and they couldn't do enough for me. I am in Base Hospital No. 26 now, getting the best care and am doing fine, so don't worry as it is nothing serious. Write often."

J. B. PURDY.


Return to "Brodhead's Tribute" main page.
Return to the Rock County Books main page.
 
©2003 Lori Niemuth