NEWS: Charles S. FLETCHER in France, 1918, Bedford County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja

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CHARLES S. FLETCHER, OF BEDFORD, IN FRANCE WITH ATTERBURY

PRIVATE CHARLES S. FLETCHER [photo]

  Charles S. Fletcher, son of Mrs. Leah Fletcher, of Bedford county, a former 
employe in the mechanical engineering department of the Westinghouse company, 
Pittsburg, is in France with Company E, 413th Telegraph battalion, under 
General W. W. Atterbury, in charge of railroad operations in the war zone.  
He enlisted in October in the signal corps and was called for service on 
November 16, 1917 and sent to Jersey City.  After a few weeks of service he 
was promoted to the rank of first class private and went over about January 
8.
  Private Fletcher in a letter to his sister says that he is now located in a 
good-sized town and that is like all French towns, every other door being a 
cafe.  He says: "I guess you heard what General Pershing said: 'Hell, heaven 
or home by Christmas,' and I think he is right.  Tell John I will be home and 
will sure help him eat that big turkey."  He speaks of his company having 
adopted a little French boy, whose mother is dead and his father a prisoner 
of the Germans.  "We bought him an American uniform so when we call him a 
French boy he gets mad.  He plays the phonograph all the time and won't sleep 
on his bed but takes his blankets and sleeps on the floor, being afraid of 
falling out of bed and hurting himself."


Altoona Tribune, Thursday morning, August 22, 1918, page 12