AN AMERICAN WW1 SOLDIER WRITES HOME

 Letter to Aunt Nell - Burey - la - Cote 12 January 1919 Dear Aunt Nell - Well - here's our first real winter morning - cold out and this cussed Frog stove I have not exactly under but (?) my chair is worse than no stove at all. It's simply an aggravation! A week ago I left on advance billeting party - coming through past Commercy to the "Abbey of Orangevale" an old, historic monastery some 300 years old. I slept there that night and billeted the place next day for my Battalion - leaving (?) Bosqu, Colombey & Toul for Pagny-la-Blanche-Mont, our new Regt'l H.Q. from there, with the towns of Burey - la - Cote and (?) assigned to my Bn. I proceeded to allot the billets to the men, officers & animals. You see I have about 1100 men, 30 officers and 90 animals to take care of. Well, I picked a private house for my Major & Adjt.; another for the 2 medical officers; one for the transport officer; one for the Rifle Instructor & 1 for the Gas officer. Now - ...

 Letter to Aunt Nell - Langres Dec. 21, 1918 Dear Aunt Nell - Well, I'm leaving here tomorrow for Luxemburg, via Paris, Nancy & Metz [Metz is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers] - and - ye Gods! maybe I'm not glad to get out of this damnable school. It has been the most unsatisfactory course I have, as yet attended - due to our new point of view of these "bomb-proof instructors - who we had to listen to before the armistice but now realize what they represent - and our attitude toward them - as that of men who have fought in the lines toward these who exert certain influences to keep away from the dangers of battle - is very marked! So, we're glad to get away from this detestable crowd and get back to our outfits where we have fellow officers who are MEN! It has been raining pretty much ever day during the past 4 weeks - is now getting damnably cold and a lot of us are anxious to get organized in our outfits ag...

 Letter to Aunt Nell - Dec. 10, 1918 Langres - Haute Marne Francais Dear Aunt Nell - I'll begin by saying I write this under personal protest - but - well, I'm a sort of a benevolent old gentleman - so - well - here goes! Frankly - I haven't much to tell - but, I know how bored you'll be so I can't see the harm of doing the job completely. Needless to say I'm well! If you could see me eat - I'm feeding at the school officer's mess, at 200 odd francs a month - you'd wonder how I ever got away with so many pan - cakes, etc. Oh! we're feeding like kings. And - I sleep extremely comfortable - our hours are from 8 - 11:30 and 1 - 4:30 so we get lots of good exercise - about 2/3 of it all is out - of - doors, so - it's some healthy life. Then, needless to (?), my suddenly fattened income allows a certain change in dress. I now wear high 16" top English trench boots (moosehide leather), whipcord uniform, the old Sam Browne, Burberry Trench coat...

 Diary entries November 25, 1918, Mon. Rain. Shot on 100+ range in a.m. Pretty nasty. Had a provisional battalion formed in p.m., tactical lectures, etc. - very good. Study 7 - 9 p.m. Pretty cold this evening. Bed 9:30. November 26, 1918, Tues. Cloudy. Had lectures on maps in a.m. In p.m. some tactical formations, compass work and C.O. drill. No study in evening. Bed at 8. Cooler. November 27, 1918, Wed. Cloudy. On 100 yd. range in a.m. Shot 2 - 3" groups offhand - to everyone's surprise. In p.m. had protractor & sketch work, games, drill & a lecture on wire. Sat in "Y" in evening a while - bed at 8:15. Warmer. November 28, 1918, Thur.. THANKSGIVING! Cloudy. Some thankful world this year I guess. Loafed & wrote all day. Fine dinner at officers mess. Football game in p.m. O&S won 7 - 0 against Minor Tactics. Bed early. November 29, 1918, Frid. Cloudy - some rain. Had compass & protractor & map work in a.m. In p.m. attended a musketry & fire...

 Diary entries November 16, 1918, Sat. Up at 7:30. Took my plat. out in an observation walk this a.m. Fine section of men. Am feeding at the Major's table - fine life - luxurious quarters, etc. Planned future instruction with Sgt. O'Connor in p.m. Wrote a few letters. Bed early. Order came in that I am detailed to school. (Toast for supper. Wonderful eats) November 17, 1918, Sun., Fair. Up at 6:30. Packed my bedding roll, had breakfast (oatmeal & pancakes) - went to Bruyères, then to Wouville (?), then to Commercy to take train. Ed Fisher, Matthews & Jack Johnstone also in our party. (Great sendoff by my old D Co. men & my (?) section. Left for Toul - staid in Toul - in a nice cot at officers Y.M.C.A. In bed at 10:30 p.m. Good supper. November 18, 1918, Mon. Up at 11 a.m. Slept the clock once around! Had a fine breakfast in Hotel Metz - at Toul. About town - saw famous cathedral. Left at 5 p.m. for Andilly - past Langres. Arrived there 1:30 a.m. Hiked to Fort - Army...