The Oklahoma City Times

111th Ammunition Train's Oklahoma City Reception Lauded by Official Poet
Treatment of Returned Heroes Recorded in Verse by Private Underhill in History of Unit in Rhyme.

And every town along the road,
Each one without exception.
Welcomed us back home again,
With a hearty glad reception.
But Oklahoma beat them all.
In hospitality.
'Twas plain to see American
Was her nationality
At Oklahoma City
They took us by surprise.
And kidnapped every one of us,
Before the Colonel's eyes.
Each family grabbed a soldier boy
And wouldn't let him go
Till they had fed and tucked him in
A bed as white as snow.

We then paraded through the town.
Upon the following day
And bidding all a fond farewell,
We sped upon our way.

—FROM "HOW IT HAPPENED"

That is the way Pvt. Edwin H. Underhill of the 111th Ammunition train of the thirty-sixth division describes the trip of the outfit through this city on its way to Camp Bowie to be demobilized. Underhill has returned to this city now from Camp Bowie with his discharge papers. He is an Oklahoman, as were the majority of the members of the 111th Ammunition train. His home is near Fort Sill.

Underhill is the author of "How it Happened," which is a history of the 111th Ammunition train, the unique part being that it is written entirely in verse. Underhill being a member of the 111th from the time the train left Camp Bowie, until its return to the United States has been able to record the trip accurately including its many interesting and sometimes perilous adventures.

His history also contains many other poems depicting incidents of camp life in France. It contains a number of illustrations of places in France prominent in the experiences of the train.

Underhill says that he never knew that he could write poetry until after he had become a member of the 111th. One day he was asked to write something "on" one of the fellows, which led to his attempt. To his surprise he found he could make rhymes as easily as he could whistle a popular melody. He then took it up as a diversion to his duties as a soldier and decided to chronicle the life of the train.