Cold in France

[This is an excerpt from a transcript of interviews between Emmilou Collins Edmonds Adams and her father, Carlos C. Collins, recorded February 14, 1982. Passages in italics are his actual words, although portions may have been omitted for brevity. Portions in brackets [] were added for clarification.]
 
Carlos Collins –
 
We went overseas in July 1918 – on the ship George Washington. I was detached from my company. I was kind of working under the division headquarters while I was going overseas because I was in charge of a look-out group from one deck and reported to Major in Charge. I got back with my company after we got overseas. Headquarters Company, 142^nd Division.
 
Emmilou Edmonds –
 
When did you get back to the United States?
 
Carlos Collins –
 
In June, 1919. Later part.
 
Emmilou Edmonds –
 
Did you dock in New York?
 
Carlos Collins –
 
Hoboken, New Jersey – same as New York. Went out to Camp Mills for 2 or 3 days. Camp Mills was there several days before the division got to New York. Discharged in Camp Bowie.
 
[while overseas]
While I was in charge of a bunch of fellows (that was after the Armistice), we were billeted in a barn. I don’t know how many of us – must have been about 40 or 50. We were supposed to have enough heating wood – had a little stove I guess to heat up the place but we didn’t have enough. But there was a big chateau up there with would stacked up and I’d send a patrol out every night to get some of that wood to keep warm and I told them not to get too much, just enough for us or the big man in charge of the chateau would be jumping on the army about it. We got enough to keep warm.

 
I remember this little town was named Flogny [Flogny-la-Chapelle], France, close to Tonnerre. There were inspectors coming around with – medical inspectors – they were having a good bit of flu – came around to our barn looking around. Of course the Colonel of the Regiment was there. He was the same man who said the New Year incident wouldn’t affect my going to OCS [Officer Candidate School] so as far as he was concerned. He was along and the Medical Officer.
 
One Medical Officer said, “You have plenty of ventilation, don’t you? You don’t sleep with this all closed up.” We said, yes, we slept with it closed up. If we didn’t we’d freeze to death. He looked around and said, “Well, you’ve got lots of air space here, I guess that’s all right.” There was a Lieutenant or Captain who said he was glad we said we slept with it closed up. If we hadn’t he would have known we were lying.