AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

 I wanted to summarize what our research has revealed so far with regard to the actual familial relationship between Clyde and Aunt Nell - Clyde's mother, Bessie (Spoor) Bliss (b. 3/7/1879) was the daughter of John and Della (Sergent) Spoor of Hartwick, N.Y. We believe Della was the daughter of LeRoy and Louisa Sergent of Laurens, N.Y. We believe Nellie Sergent (b. 1/9/1883) was the daughter of LeRoy and Mary (Adams) Sergent - LeRoy's second wife - of Laurens, N.Y. This would make Nellie the Grand Aunt of Bessie despite being born 4 years after Bessie. It would be interesting to uncover the family tree for LeRoy Rufus Sergent. More diary entries - Apr. 17, 1918, Wed., Fair. Warm. Up early. Went out for bayonet combat drill this a.m. Rec'd instructions in open & trench combat. Very strenuous. Rec'd our new 1917 Enfield model rifles, bayonets & scabbards today. Wrote letters. Bed early. Apr. 18, 1918, Thur., Very Hot . Had Co. drill & rifle drill this a.m. wit...

 More diary entries - Apr. 7, 1918, Sun., Fair. Up at 7:00. Slept OK. Train near Wash., D.C. 10:10 a.m. "Al", Spraker and I had bkfst. and made 11 a.m. train on Pennsy. Arrived in N.Y. about 5:40 p.m. Devil of a trip. Left N.Y. 6 and arrived in Peekskill 7:15. At Anna's for night. Cooler. And maybe my Anna wasn't a sight to gladden my heart! Oh! Boy!!! Apr. 8, 1918, Mon., Cloudy. Rain. Home Left Peekskill 7:40. Anna with me. Reached Albany at 11:20. Had luncheon there. Left Albany for Oneonta at 2:30, arrived about 6:00. Left on 6:40 trolly. Lunch in Oneonta. Reached home about 8:30. Visited rather late. Apr. 9, 1918, Tues., Snow. Home. Up early. Claude up for day. Had maple sugar & (?). Played cards, visited & smoked all day. Saw Leon & Les G. Snowed all day. Apr. 10, 1918, Wed. Cold. Cloudy. Home. Loafed around all morning. Anna, Doris, Delia and I all hiked over to El Refugio [Clyde's camp / cabin on Arnold's Lake] in p.m. Looked around, etc. Di...

 [ NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS SERIES FOR THR FIRST TIME, IT'S BEST TO START AT THE BEGINNING] Letter to Aunt Nell Camp Wadsworth Spartanburg, S.C. Saturday p.m. March 30, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell - Haven't had a letter from you in quite some time, but the pkg. of papers came yesterday, reminding me that a letter was probably forthcoming soon - so, am going to beat you to it by writing at once! The Digest's were these very excellent issues - some of the best articles I've read in a long time even in them and the Republic! You should see the weather here recently. Today it's just like a midsummer day up north! Gee! It's simply great!  I expect to come home on furlough soon - some time in April. Will surely try to call on you either coming or going. The little girl is going home with me and I'd like her to come as far as NY with me on the way back. Will let you know more about my furlough later. I'm somewheres down the list yet so, of course, don't know a...