AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

[ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] [On April 6, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution, ending America’s neutral stance on the ongoing global conflict – later deemed a “World War” – and formally declaring war against Imperial German Government.] April 30, 1917 / Oswego, NY Dear Aunt Nel - Your letter of the 28th rec'd this morning made me very happy indeed, happy to know you had not forgotten me entirely, and as a tribute to your remembrance I am answering as promptly as ever I can. Yes, whenever I make a change, in these uncertain days, when one day finds you smoking at your dock at camp, and 24 hours later you are on an outpost a hundred - odd miles away, you hardly know where to place a hand on your military friends, so I'll promise to let you know whenever I change. "Do you expect to have to go to Europe?" you ask. I expect that, now that we are in this war, on democracy's side agains...

[  NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Scan of Clyde's personal stationery April 9, 1917 / El Refugio Dear Aunt Nel - As I am home on a five day furlough, and have time to write you a few lines, thought I would do so, as, when I return to my company, I shall again find myself very busy. I left Peekskill Thursday, and return Tuesday. Don't you think me rather fortunate in getting so long a furlough? Nearly everyone in my company has been getting 48 hour furloughs and there is, naturally, considerable envy on the part of the other fellows. But, you see, I left so suddenly & unexpectedly that my affairs were in no condition to drop, so Lieut. Wightman gave me the 5 day L.O.A. to straighten things up, so, of course, there's no telling when I can get home again. Clyde's 5 day LOA paper I have seen Dad & Mother, Claude, Doris and Delia, Grandma Spoor, Uncle Les, Uncle Elmer & family, and dozens of frien...

  Earliest Service-Related Letter Found - March 5, 1917 / Peekskill, NY. / Headquarters Post 2 / Co. M, 1st Inf., N.G.N.Y. Dear Aunt Nel - Your letter of yesterday came today. Am glad you find the time to write! I, too, have very little upon which I can base a letter, as there seems practically nothing to say! Your hours are fully as strenuous as this military stuff, aren't they? If you only had to get out at midnight for a couple hours out-post duty, you would have a good copy of our hours at being awake. Am now in Headquarters barracks as I think my last letter told you and like it much better! Sick! Huh! No, oh no! We have somebody with rheumatism, grippe, "con"[?], or something all the time. Two men have been discharged with consumption, and there is, I hear a case or two of pneumonia up the line some where. As for me, I'm too blamed tough to get sick. I am such a 'husky' guy, I can't get sick! But laying all joking aside, it isn't a man's phys...

A World War 1 Soldier Writes Home - Background Hi! My name is Bob, but what I want to share here is not about me. It's about a man named Clyde.  Clyde is my wife, Linda, and her sister, Pam's, paternal grandfather, a Great War American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.) soldier who died as a result of being gassed during his time in Belgium and France. During his stateside training and overseas service, he wrote to provide some information to his folks and family. Several dozens of these communications addressed to his Aunt Nel who lived in New York City were left to us when his last surviving sibling, Doris, passed several years ago. We had developed quite a warm relationship with her in the 1990s and early 2000s, visiting her frequently while she resided at The Thanksgiving Home and The Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, NY.  My intention is to transcribe those letters on this forum to allow Clyde's remaining descendants and interested parties an opportunity to read his corresponden...