Letter
#92
Nov.
12, 1918
France
Dear
Sweetheart,
It’s not Sunday night this time, but
Tuesday. You’ll have to forgive me this time dear, for had you been with me
since last Friday night, you would have thought you were being mistreated. We have
been on the road traveling. I’m seeing
some more of France by foot and by boxcars. The weather is getting cold and
chilly at night; the roads are becoming muddy and soupy. But what do we care
for rain, cold, or mud, for we go most any place, no matter what the
weather. By all the reports we are
receiving here, it won’t be long till it’s over. Now don’t you get all worked up about it.
Before leaving the place we were,
stationed last week I went to one of the neighboring towns, there I visited
another Catholic church it surely was beautiful on the inside, but the outside
showed the effects of age and long windy winters, for the moss and grass has
grown on the walls and roof. The date on the tower was 1700, on the annex 1716
it surely is an old one compared to many I’ve seen. From there I made my way
over a few hills to a French aviation field, there were about 30 or 40
machines, they surely were monsters, I did not know they were no large and
peaceful. After seeing several go up I was aching for them to ask me to take a
little trip up into the air. After leaving, I made the remark, of ever I get a
chance to enter was again I want either the air or water, they appeal to me
more than anything else.
Thursday night, I had some good luck;
I’ll bet you can’t guess. I found out that Geo. was located about two villages
away so after night mess, dark mind you, I started to find him. I did not have any trouble in finding him
although I had never been over the road before, I found him and oh how happy I
was for it had been over a month since I had seen him. He told me he had
written to you, I hope you have received the letter.
Since that time I have been with him
most of the time, it surely makes me feel much better just to be with someone from
home. He has been with me, today, and we have been sightseeing. We saw one of
the great hospitals the Americans have built since they entered the war. It
surely is some sight, for they really look like buildings, not old ancient as
we see all over France. If you see one town or village, you have seen most of
France. Now don’t think all of
France is the same, for I’m sure it is not all the same. Most of the roofs of the buildings are tile,
long low ones.
In crossing over the country on this
last trip, I passed through a town named after the Holbrook girl who teaches
school and sings in the choir. The
sector I was in before has been left behind.
Now we’re going where there is more excitement.
The place we are in now we arrived
at late last night. We went straight to bed, but before long, we could hear
someone playing on a drum and about a half hour later came the faint sound of
music. All talk had ceased for a time
being and to our great surprise, it was the French giving us a welcome. It was the French giving us a welcome to
their city. It was the second time I had
heard music since arriving in France. I
suppose you have heard all the wonderful tales about what the YMCA is doing
“over here” for the boys. They may be
doing a great deal somewhere, but I haven’t seen much of it. That music surely
put new life into me. They played our
national anthem and “My Country Tis of Thee.”
The chills rolled down my back. I
never stood up because I was too cold and too tired. Now don’t blame me, dear, for I am as
patriotic as the next soldier. It gave me a good appetite for my
breakfast.
This afternoon, they gave another
little concert
Corp.
Henry D. Call
Co. A. 313th Engrs., APO 732
American
E.F. France
Signed by censor, Geo.
A. Hult, 1st Lieut. U.S. Army
No comments:
Post a Comment