Now I know that not everyone has used a Fox Hole and I am happy that you who didn’t, were spared.
It was a cold rainy night and the sound of guns could be heard every where. The light from the explosions would give one just enough time to see what was going on around you. There were bodies all around, some were just wounded, most of them were already dead.
We were company “H” and better known as “The Yo Yo company”. We held the record of being a company that had advanced and had to withdraw or retreat more than any other company in this man’s army.
My company had taken this ground, six or seven times and I had been wounded three time in this battle, The first time, shrapnel took part of my ear, the second time, I jumped into a fox hole and a bayonet got stuck in my rear end. The third time I was put on a stretcher and carried to a field hospital. All the time I was there, I couldn’t see, hear or did I know what was going on. In the end, we had lost the battle and there were no winners.
Out of two hundred men, In the company, a sergeant and myself were the only two survivors. All the others were in body bags somewhere. During these six or seven advances, I am sure, that I had been in the same fox holes, several times, These advances took place over a, two night and one day battle. and mostly in the dark.
Upon my recovery, I was honored in recognition of doing some things that I probably never done and the sergeant, that had survived along with my-self, had lost his life in yet, another battle. I was asked to accept his medals along with my own, as he had no other family. So in behalf of our company, I accepted them.
The total weight of these medals weighted more than anchor on a ship. After receiving all these medals, my knees buckled and I went down on my knees, a Catholic priest and a Captain, held me up, until the ceremony was over. Then, wheels were used to move me off the parade grounds.
Discharge came soon after and I wondered around for a time. Then I started to get hungry, so I sold and pawned a medal here and there. They weren’t worth much. As a hero, I was soon forgotten. I needed help, so one day I went to a church and spoke with a Minster, that afternoon the church burnt down. Then I went to the Red Cross, they gave me two stale dry donuts, Left over from World War One and cold cup of coffee. Then they wanted a dollar & forty five cents for them. That night, I burnt the Red Cross down. It took several hours before it was done burning. I was given ten years, with six off for good behavior. If I hadn’t been jumping up and down and clapping my hands, at the fire, they never would have caught me!
For all of you that served your country, Thank You!
Look at all we had done for our Country, and now see what they have gone and done. Just don’t call on me again.
It was a cold rainy night and the sound of guns could be heard every where. The light from the explosions would give one just enough time to see what was going on around you. There were bodies all around, some were just wounded, most of them were already dead.
We were company “H” and better known as “The Yo Yo company”. We held the record of being a company that had advanced and had to withdraw or retreat more than any other company in this man’s army.
My company had taken this ground, six or seven times and I had been wounded three time in this battle, The first time, shrapnel took part of my ear, the second time, I jumped into a fox hole and a bayonet got stuck in my rear end. The third time I was put on a stretcher and carried to a field hospital. All the time I was there, I couldn’t see, hear or did I know what was going on. In the end, we had lost the battle and there were no winners.
Out of two hundred men, In the company, a sergeant and myself were the only two survivors. All the others were in body bags somewhere. During these six or seven advances, I am sure, that I had been in the same fox holes, several times, These advances took place over a, two night and one day battle. and mostly in the dark.
Upon my recovery, I was honored in recognition of doing some things that I probably never done and the sergeant, that had survived along with my-self, had lost his life in yet, another battle. I was asked to accept his medals along with my own, as he had no other family. So in behalf of our company, I accepted them.
The total weight of these medals weighted more than anchor on a ship. After receiving all these medals, my knees buckled and I went down on my knees, a Catholic priest and a Captain, held me up, until the ceremony was over. Then, wheels were used to move me off the parade grounds.
Discharge came soon after and I wondered around for a time. Then I started to get hungry, so I sold and pawned a medal here and there. They weren’t worth much. As a hero, I was soon forgotten. I needed help, so one day I went to a church and spoke with a Minster, that afternoon the church burnt down. Then I went to the Red Cross, they gave me two stale dry donuts, Left over from World War One and cold cup of coffee. Then they wanted a dollar & forty five cents for them. That night, I burnt the Red Cross down. It took several hours before it was done burning. I was given ten years, with six off for good behavior. If I hadn’t been jumping up and down and clapping my hands, at the fire, they never would have caught me!
For all of you that served your country, Thank You!
Look at all we had done for our Country, and now see what they have gone and done. Just don’t call on me again.
By: Ben R.
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