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ON ACTIVE SERVICE
with the
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

AMERICAN Y.M.C.A.

(Dec) 1-1-1919
Mr J.T. Miller,
Will drop you a few lines, this being New Years day and there's nothing else around here to do.

I don't remember whether I have written you since I have been in France or not but I don't think I 
have. I came across in the later part of August landing the 2nd of September with a replacement regiment. 
Our trip across was a good one but no excitement in the way of subs. The sea was smooth and the best 
of weather.

There were 14 transports in our convoy and a U.S. battle ship about 14 U.S. destroyers came out and 
escorted us the rest of the way, keeping on the outside of the convoy and always looking for trouble 
but found none. We came across on an old Russian boat manned by the English. Her name was the "Czaritya."

We landed at Brest and stayed there until the 14th when we were taken to a replacement camp in the 
southern part of France near the Spanish border. After being in training there for a month we were 
sent out to different divisions as replacements. About 40 of us joined the 82nd division on the front, 
about 18 miles North West of Verdun. It was about the 15th of October when we

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2

reached the outfit. Well things were pretty quiet from then on until the first of November when the 
last big drive of the war started. At night there would maybe be an air raid and some shells come over 
to visit us. And in the daytime there would be an air acitivity and some more shells drop most any where.

On the morning of Nov 1 there was something doing, the whole sky line was a flame, from the Swiss border 
to the coast, by the fire division infantry at the time, the 82nd infantry being relieved.

From 3:00 in the morning until about noon the next day, one of the greatest artillery actions of the 
war was carried out. There was a constant roar of cannon and the barking of long range guns all the 
time. About noon the artillery fire had to cease, being out of range on account of the advance of the 
infantry. The Germans didn't have time to take their big guns with them so they were left behind together 
with a great many machine guns and big piles of powder and ammunition. There are several things of 
interest that happened during this drive and I'll tell you about them when I get back.

On Nov 10 we were relieved and came back to the rear for rest, but in a few days the thing was over 
with and we never went back to the front any more; #

I have been in good health and all the time since I have been in France; it's not cold yet and we have 
not had any snow in this part of France. We are near Dijon and stationed in a

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small town. We don't know when we are going to sail or what we are going to do during our future stay 
in France.

Things are as green now as they are in the spring of the year and I believe it has rained every day 
for the last 7 weeks, but it don't freeze.

In France it is a custom for the men to kiss the women when they meet on New Years day; it being their 
way of expressing New Years greetings.

Will close with wishes for a prosperous New Year,
Pvt John D. McDowell
Supply Co. 321st Field Artillery
82nd Division.

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ON ACTIVE SERVICE
with the
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

AMERICAN Y.M.C.A.

OK
W.F. Smith

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AM. EX. F.
Knights of Columbus
OVERSEAS SERVICE
Pvt John D McDowell
U.S. Army

Mr. J.T. Miller Jr.
Kirksville
Missouri
U.S.A.

Soldier's Mail

[illegible postmark]

[illegible postmark]

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W.W.I.118.47