AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

 More diary entries - July 15, 1918, Mon., Warm, at Langres, France Sergt.'s warrant dated 1 year ago today. Had scouting - panoramic sketching all a.m. Had practical work in S & OP's this p.m. and wrote O.P. reports, offensive & defensive range cards, sketched and repaired a S.P. Wrote notes & a few letters in evening. Bed early. Made study of Boche rifle in evening. Gas defense lecture 4 - 5:30. Very hot. July 16, 1918, Tues., Very hot. Had work on 100+ range - shooting at heads in window, periscopes & cans in air this a.m. Lecture on protractors, air-photos, O.P. records, and a quiz in map work, etc. Issue of new overseas caps, socks, etc. tonight. Wrote notes & few letters. Making plans on tomorrow's athletics. We were 2nd 1st week and 3rd last week (O&S section). Hottest day yet. July 17, 1918, Wed. Still hotter than yesterday. On 200+ range this a.m. at bullseye, disappearing walking targets. Did fairly well. Had races, tug of war, and boxing. ...

 Letter to Aunt Nell - Sunday. July 14, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell :- Just a few lines to sort of show you up! How - I'll bet you haven't written me two Sundays in succession - and this is the second that I've written to you! So - get busy! Ha! Ha! Today is France's Independence Day - their Fourth! Perhaps you will have read of the Yank Fourth over here - but anyhow - I'm enclosing a clipping from "The Stars & Stripes" the official A.E.F. newspaper - our paper - that tells you more about the glorious fourth over here than you could get written any other way. Am also enclosing an editorial from our paper - which is pretty good. [see both below] Recently - at a certain place and certain date the chaplain of Columbia U. gave an address - and it was my good fortune to hear him. Later, I'll tell you more about him & his work, if I can - as I know it'll interest you. Let's see - you're head over heels in progress with your vacation by now, aren...

 More diary entries - July 5, 1918, Fridat, Fair. Warmer. Langres - Marne. Up at 6:45. Fine meals - best I've had in all my service here! On 200 yard range this a.m. shooting at 8" bull, 4 sec. disapp'g silhouettes and moving silhouettes (?) much better than average. Had whole afternoon working with & being lectured on range finders - both B&L [Bausch & Lomb] and Barr & Stroud [Barr & Stroud Limited was a pioneering Glasgow optical engineering firm. They played a leading role in the development of modern optics, including rangefinders]. Very interesting. Lecture at 7 p.m. on minor tactics. Covering new assault formation. Saw "David Copperfield" movie after. 2 francs due me from Pinkerstone. (Paid) July 6, 1918, Sat. Fair. Very Warm. At O.S. School. At 100 yard range all a.m. after a bit of close order & physical. Shot rifles in fixed rest & transversing mounts, used telescopic sighted rifles and shot with the sniperscope attachment. In...

  Letter to Aunt Nell - Clyde's letter to Aunt Nell July 4, 1918, from Langres, France. Knights of Columbus War Activities Somewhere in France July 4, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell - Somehow, I've an idea that you've written me one or more times since I've left U.S.A. but I've absolutely no material proof of the fact. 'Ats Right! not a single letter from you since I've been in France! But, I've been away from my company a lot and perhaps some has come in that I've not seen. You see I've carried on in my hobbies - Scouting, Observation and Sniping and am pretty busy with it - and very persistently at my notes when not taking lectures, dictation and practicing the stunts we learn. I find that as time goes on I'm thickening and hardening in great shape, getting more endurance & strength, gradually acquiring lightning speed in movement and all that sort of thing - fact is you wouldn't know me. But, due to age, I guess, I'm not as good a shot as...

 More diary entries - June 19, 1918, Wed., Fair in p.m. Rain in a.m. Warmer Up at 7. Dead tired yet. Have runs good & strong; pretty weak. Had rotten bkfst. Marched to beach - odds & ends of drill all day - fairly easy. Had my platoon in new formation drill. Went fine. Feel better tonight. Shaved - washed up. Wrote - bed early. Jeal cleans my rifle. By mistake! Ha!Ha! June 20, 1918, Thur., Cloudy in a.m. Rain in p.m. Hike . Up at 6 for reveille. Rotten bkfst. Made our packs - preparatory to moving away. Left about 11 and hiked to 1:00 p.m. Fair lunch on road from our rolling kitchen. On the road again at 3:00. Arrived at a camp up in the forest near the Somme about 5:00. Not so tired - men all came in O.K. today. Jeal & I in pup tent - rain at night. June 21, 1918, Friday. Cloudy. Some Rain. On hike. Left our camp near Brancourt early this a.m. Delayed a bit a mile out for water - hiked through St. Valerey to Noyelles, where we stopped for lunch. Then hiked until 5:30 p...