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This letter was written November 12, 1918, the day after Armistice. Some excerpts from the letter..............
Dear Charles,
I am sure you have the good news long before this hour. That is the signing of the Armistice by the Germans. All fighting really ceased at 11:00 o'clock yesterday morning, and everthing has been quiet since.
That is the first step towards a real peace. Just how long we will remain here in Europe none of us know. I am sure we will have to remain until most important questions touching upon peace are settled. Let us hope that that won't be many more weeks.
Am sure there has been great rejoicing in America. Yesterday at the hour of the signing of the Armistice the French unfurled and raised their flags to all of their highest places, and have been celebrating all since. For the first time since I have been over here have the lights shown to their full extent in houses on autos and in streets.
Really a relief to have lights where there is so much traffic going on in the night, and to feel safe from areoplanes and long-ranged shells.
This letter has a nice 316th Infantry Camp Meade, Maryland Letterhead. It was written by a soldier at the camp in December of 1917. Some Excerpts..........
Dear Mother,
Well according to all reports Lancaster County must have had some snow. We have had snow frozen on the ground for the last 10 days. It shows no signs of let up so far. Snowed some this morning again. Had a letter from Sam Brubaker say's down at Charlotte N.C. Camp Greene, have 8 inches of snow. It is only a couple inches deep here but sticks......I have been pretty lucky have not had to be out in the field. The boys in some Co. have been raising cane the last few days. Since the lid has been put on passes..........
These two letters were written by a 1st Lieutenant, who was in the Infantry. The first letter was written just two days before Armistice, November 9, 1918, France. From the letter……..We are now back resting in a small French village. Real rest too. Haven’t done a darn thing and don’t think will have to for a while, as we are due a rest, not a so called rest. Received our mail, the first we had received in about six weeks, and are due to get another batch. Received your letters and a box of cigars. Now you know I was a happy boy……As to my dug out, well the war we have been fighting lately is out of the dug out territory and don’t stop long enough to dig any, just little fox holes where we are temporarily held up. Haven’t seen a dug out for quite a bit, been living in woods, fox holes, on hill sides, etc. We are not permitted to carry a Kodak, though occasionally some one is seen with one even though it is against orders, but they can hardly ever get the pictures developed as we move so often never at one place long enough to do anything……But if peace is declared we will then be in a position to take all kinds of pictures and will be glad to send some of my comrades and friends though two of my best friends, Lieutenants who had been in the Co. all the time, were killed.
Now we have been away from where we could get mail, have the usual communication with Headquarters and are just getting back, we were near the front as reserves, support or front line and did not have an opportunity to get the card……..Ever since we have been in this part of France, in fact ever since we have been over here, except the first two months, we have had the YMCA with us. Where we could get American supplies, and the YMCA, there is always one with the Regiment, and most of the time are with each Battalion, goes right with us, moves when we move, always carrying the articles the American Dough Boy desires, giving to him free writing paper and envelopes, send his money home for him, furnish him amusements both by shows vaudeville, and pictures, and supplying him with athletic equipment, ball bats, gloves, footballs, basket balls, etc. and their work in having supplies at hand that the soldier wants and bringing amusements, acting as banker as club room, as friend have lightened the arduous life of campaigning in a country where American articles and supplies and amusements can be had no where else……...
Written by a soldier in France, after armistice, in January 1919. He was with Evacuation Ambulance Company 10. From the letter…….Baziolles France……Dear Mother, received your welcome letter yesterday. I am feeling fine hope you are the same. Things did not go as I thought they would or I may have been home by this time but it is hard to tell when we will get away from this place if we can get away from here, I think we will be on our way to the coast. The weather is about the same raining all the time. I was over to the home of Joan of Arc Jan the 5th, and it is a very nice place they built a church in honor of her, it is the finest piece of work I have saw in France. Now being at this place, one of the largest hospitals in France that is being operated by the A.E.F. there is not so much work but most everybody wants to get home. These people do know how to charge for things the soldiers buy. It is something awful but if one wants anything it is about five franc or more for a meal. And not much to eat at that. Five franc is worth about a dollar in American money.......
Written by a soldier in France, after armistice, in January 1919. He was with Evacuation Ambulance Company 10. From the letter…….We are here at the same place Bazoilles on the Muse River. Just had the first cold weather this winter and a little snow. As I hear I think the rest of the boys will be at home before I will. They are at Lamonds getting ready to get to the US. I met a fellow from Barberton? The other day and he told me one of the Lieb boys of Norton Center died of flu over here. We are not doing much these days a few of the boys have been in the Hospital with a bad cold but it did not amount to much I have not got much to say this time. I send my best to all the boys. Good bye.......
