Taylor County, Iowa: Veterans day 1918

On this Veterans Day 2010, I found an original clipping that I have in my possession that was cut out of the December 5, 1918 Bedford-Times-Republican Newspaper from Bedford, Iowa. They printed a copy of a letter that was written on November 27, 1918 by my grandfather, Glenn M. Tracy that he had sent to his family after he returned to the USA after fighting in France during World War I. Glenn had been raised from childhood in Bedford by his grandparents until he enlisted in the US Army shortly after the outbreak of World War I. Glenn was in Co. K 168th Infantry, 42nd Division (the Rainbow Division as named by then Colonel Douglas MacArthur). He arrived in France on December 9, 1917 and proceeded to fight on several fronts. During the Second Battle of the Marne Champagne Campaign, he was wounded at the Battle of Chateau-Thierry on July 27, 1918. He was sent to a hospital behind the lines where one doctor wanted to amputate his leg and another chose to save it. He developed Scarlet Fever and nearly died. He remained in hospitals throughout the remainder of the war recovering from his wounds. He recuperated enough to be able to get around with the assistance of a cane (which I have in my possession) and was scheduled to leave France for the USA on November 11, 1918. In his letter, he writes that he was boarding the boat to take him home when the Armistice was signed and the whistles and bells sounded. He comments on the joy of the French people that he witnessed. Then he tells about his arrival in the USA, crippled, broke and not knowing anybody and his desire to return home.

Glenn M. Tracy in 1918
from: Rick G. Tracy Lake Ozark, MO On this Veterans Day 2010, I found an original clipping that I have in my possession that was cut out of the December 5, 1918 Bedford-Times-Republican Newspaper from Bedford, Iowa. They printed a copy of a letter that was written on November 27, 1918 by my grandfather, Glenn M. Tracy that he had sent to his family after he returned to the USA after fighting in France during World War I. Glenn had been raised from childhood in Bedford by his grandparents until he enlisted in the US Army shortly after the outbreak of World War I. Glenn was in Co. K 168th Infantry, 42nd Division (the Rainbow Division as named by then Colonel Douglas MacArthur). He arrived in France on December 9, 1917 and proceeded to fight on several fronts. During the Second Battle of the Marne Champagne Campaign, he was wounded at the Battle of Chateau-Thierry on July 27, 1918. He was sent to a hospital behind the lines where one doctor wanted to amputate his leg and another chose to save it. He developed Scarlet Fever and nearly died. He remained in hospitals throughout the remainder of the war recovering from his wounds. He recuperated enough to be able to get around with the assistance of a cane (which I have in my possession) and was scheduled to leave France for the USA on November 11, 1918. In his letter, he writes that he was boarding the boat to take him home when the Armistice was signed and the whistles and bells sounded. He comments on the joy of the French people that he witnessed. Then he tells about his arrival in the USA, crippled, broke and not knowing anybody and his desire to return home.