AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

 Diary entry - November 1, 1918, Friday In a.m. had physical exercise. In p.m. we filled out our War Dept. record cards, took our oath as 2nd Lieuts. Infantry, U.S. Army - and signed our oaths of commission, enlistment discharges and acceptance of commission. Busy pretty late. Am now a full fledged officer! Letter to Aunt Nell - Nov. 4, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell : - Just a line to say I finished O.K. Was 12th on the list of men recommended and so I think I did pretty well - having on 11 men beat me out of so many. Have passed final exams O.K., checked property, final statement & discharge is made out, recommendation went in from Lieut. Instructor, past the captain and approved by Commandant of school, passed physical exam. perfect, papers all made out - and today we're sworn in & commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants, Infantry, U.S. Army. Will forward my address as soon as I am assigned to an outfit. My salary - (?) allowances, etc., will be about $2,160.00 a year - or $180. a month. H

 Letter to Aunt nell - 12th Co. 3rd Bn. Army Candidates School A.P.O. 714 A.E.F. France October 27, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell: - I received a batch of letters - 21 in all - the other day - from Anna, Mother, Grandma, Ethel W., Dorothy Culver, Berneice H., Martha Todd, My Lodge Sec'y, Margaret Rose, and Frank Yates and - not a single one from you! I wonder if you have written very regularly lately? There's not much news - am in town again today - for luncheon & dinner. Will let you determine from the two menus below rather we fed well or not. Luncheon - des oeufs sur le plat Porc cotelette Sadade de ce'le'ri Les pommes de terre frites du pain blanc et du beurre Une pomme; une tasse de cafe' au lait Raisin Dinner - Un potage consomme' Un canard rote'aus petit pois Aspereges a' la sauce blanche Cafe' Fromage francais Un gateau (and) "une bouteille de vin blanc" So you see, along with study, writing notes and outlining some lecture topics for fut