This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Spies plus article about enlisted men Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/AQB.2ACI/229 Message Board Post: Plattsmouth Journal, Monday, June 16, 1916 BERT SPIES, A PLATTSMOUTH BOY, HAS ENLISTED IN THE ARMY Among the Nebraska boys who will go to the Mexican border to take part in defending the honor of their country is Bert Spies, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Spies of this city. Bert is a member of the signal corps of the National guard of Nebraska, belonging to the Fremont company, and is now at Camp Morehead at Lincoln, awaiting the order to entrain for the front. Mr. Spies, who is a linotype operator, has been located at Fremont for some time, and when the call came he at once responded to the occasion. The many friends of the young man will await further news of the company when they reach their destination, and particularly of Mr. Spies. Plattsmouth Journal, Thursday, February 8, 1917 BERT SPIES OF THE FIFTH NEBRASKA VISITS HOME FOLKS >From Saturday’s Daily. Bert SPIES, one of the members of the Fifth Nebraska, came down last evening on No. 2 to enjoy a brief visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman SPIES, and his many friends in this city, where he was reared to manhood. Bert is a member of the signal corps of Fremont and has put in a strenuous time on the frontier with the Nebraska boys in their school of the soldier. He is well pleased with his experience and the training the past eight months [blur] army life has given him, and states that while there were many hardships to contend with and much hard work, it was an experience that was well worth passing through. Prior to joining the Fifth regiment, Mr. Spies was employed at Fremont as a linotype operator, and was sent direct from that city to Lincoln to be mustered into the service and this is the first opportunity he has had to visit the home folks since entering the service. It is needless to say that the return of Bert was a most joyful occasion to the family and the! many acquaintances who were delighted to see him so hale and hearty after his long sojourn in the sandy wastes of southwestern Texas. He will rejoin his regiment at Fort Crook today and remain there until mustered out of the service. Plattsmouth Journal, May 14, 1917 PLATTSMOUTH BOYS WHO ANSWERED COUNTRY’S CALL >From Friday’s Daily. The Journal has several times been requested to print a list of those enlisting in the army, navy and national guard from this city, and while it is a difficult matter to secure a list that is accurate in every way and one that will include each person who has volunteered, as far a s possible the names of those now serving has been prepared and includes the following: Louis G. STRAVA, U.S.A.; Jesse BLUNT, George BROOKS, jr., coast artillery; Raymond LARSON, Kenneth MC CARTHY, Wayne ALLEN, Ed MAYBEE, Lute RANARD, jr., John BEDNARIK, Fourth Nebraska; Ed RIPPLE, jr., William and Hershel PETTY, Earl WILSON, Third Iowa; Charles DOVEY, Ben WINDHAM, James PERSINGER, Clyde KAUFMANN, Ernest BROWN, George RENNIE, Joe SMETENE, Cyril JANDA, Harry WILSON, Eugene LISTER, Glen NEIL, Tom ISNER, navy. In addition to these a Plattsmouth boy, Albert SATTLER, is a member of the Oklahoma troops, while John PALASEK and Emery DE WOLF of this city are members of the Fifth Nebraska, as well as Bert! SPIES, who is attached to the Fremont Signal corps. Plattsmouth Journal, Monday, October 14, 1918 ANOTHER PLATTS BOY MAKES GOOD WASHINGTON DISPATCHES SHOW THE COMMISSIONING OF EDMOND L. SPIES AS FIRST LIEUTENANT U.S. ARMY An Excellent Young Man, Born In This City, Educated Here, Receives Recognition >From Friday’s Daily. The morning dispatches show the receiving by Edmond L. SPIES of a commission of First Lieutenant, in the United States Army. Edmond was born in this city and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman SPIES during his time in school, he worked with his father and became an efficient cigar maker at which he has worked. Later, after having finished school he went in to the Burlington shops and became an excellent machinist and going to the west settled in Colorado, where he liked it on a homestead until he had proven up on it. Returning he purchased a home in this city, and then offered his services to his country, and was accepted, the family still remaining as citizens of this city. After entering the service he by unstinted application, and hard work and study, has been given a commission as First Lieutenant. Mr. Spies is deserving of the recognition which come to him and we expect to see him merit and obtain still more. Plattsmouth Journal, Monday, November 4, 1918, for following three articles RECEIVES WORD FROM SON. >From Saturday’s Daily. Mrs. Herman SPIES has received a card announcing the arrival of their son, Sergeant B.J. SPIES over seas, he being with and a member of Wire Co. 109 Signal Battalion. It is with much pleasure that the relatives of this Plattsmouth young American, hear that he has landed safely over seas. LETTER FROM ELMER F. SPIES Somewhere in France Oct. 8th, 1918 Dear Mother and All: I am at the young lady’s home and am writing this letter there. Everything in this town seems to be like the different parts of the larger cities at home, except the different streets and vehicles which are very different. The little girl’s father is at the front, a medical surgeon, and they have a mate to Henry in their garage, a Ford, “tin lizzy.” Marie should answer this little girl’s letter. She is a nice girl and her people are real nice. Hermie can also write as she enjoys writing and can learn something about her country and teach her something of our own. See something new every day that I am in this country. I have not heard a word from any of you as yet. Expect to any day now. My love to all, yourself. Your loving son, ELMER F. SPIES The Little Girl’s Letter. Chateau du Loir, Oct. 8th. My dear Marie Louise, You will be very surprised in receiving this letter. I am a French girl. I live at Chateau du Loir, a little town of about five thousand inhabitants, in the west part of France. I met your brother Elmer at Chateau Du Loir in a house where I was. I spoke with him a long time. He said to me that he had brothers and sisters and that one of his sisters was sixteen years old. I asked him your name and your address to write to you. But I don’t write American well because I have learned it only two years at school. I shall learnt American language during three years. Now I shall speak a little more of myself, because I think you are curious to know how is your French correspondent. I am fifteen years old. I have a fair hair and grey eyes. I should like to have your photo; so if you have it taken, I shall be very happy to receive it. If you want, I shall send you mine in my next letter. In France, we love very much American soldiers because they risk their lives to fight aga! inst the naughty “boches” as we call the Germans in France. At Chateau du Loir (Castle of Loir, in American), there are nearly seven hundred American soldiers. They made wood buildings. Usually school begins on the first of October, but this year there is an epidemic in the country called Spanish influenza and the school is shut. In your next letter, please send me the correction of my mistakes that are probably numerous.\ Hoping to hear from you soon. I must close my letter now, with much love from, MARCELLE My address is: Mademoiselle Marcelle Caisson, 44 avenue de la Gare, Chateau-du-Loir, (Sarthe), France. Plattsmouth Journal, Monday, November 4, 1918 SOLDIERS WRITE TO HOME FOLKS TWO LETTERS FROM THE BOYS DOING THEIR WORK FOR THE COUNTRY THEY LOVE. ONE IS FROM OLD FRANCE They Tell of Their Experience In the Service, and Best wishes for Their Folks. The two following letters, one from Emil Koukal, who was gassed in France some time since, but who is now all right, and well satisfied that the war is over. The other one from Bert SPIES who was formerly one of the force of this paper, are interesting reading. They both will be remembered by their many friends in this city: France, Nov. 15, 1918 Dear Mamma: Well, there is a soldier from Brooklyn, going from the hospital at Cour Cherney in central France, and I am writing this letter and let him mail it in New York. I am in the hospital here with an injured knee. Will be discharged from the hospital the 18th of this month. Now, do not worry as I am all o.k. the war is over and we will be back in four or five months or sooner. Will go back to my company for duty, so you can see that I am all o.k. All France is celebrating the victory now. We were at Verdun with the first army corps. Casualties were pretty heavy for a couple of days. Quite a few of the men were gassed. We are going to the Rhine a couple of weeks, so I will get some souvenirs before I return. I am glad the war is over now. You do not imagine what the sights one sees at the front. All the boys are glad that the war is over and I guess the people back home are, too. I have not heard from you since I have been in France and do not expect to as no one here seems to receive any mail. It will be a grand day when we sail past the State of Liberty and know that our mission has been fulfilled. Our artillery and transport trains are moving back from the front now as we can see it pass here every few hours. I suppose you still have the Liberty bonds I sent you. I hope this is received by you. Now, do not worry about me as I am all o.k. A slight obtrusion of the knee cap, That’s all. Lucky not to get any gas as quite a few did. With lots of love to all and tell me Elmer’s address and Ed’s also. Will eat Thanksgiving and Xmas dinner in France and drink a bottle of wine to your health. With love, BERT Plattsmouth Journal, May 19, 1919 BERT SPIES ARRIVES HOME LAST NIGHT A One-Time Journal Employee Back From Overseas Service – In Field Signal Service. >From Friday’s Daily. Bert Spies, well-known here, arrived home on the midnight Missouri Pacific train last night, being very glad to see the old town of Plattsmouth again. Bert enlisted about two years ago and was overseas for about seven months being engaged in Field Signal work. Prior to his departure for [article cut off].