March 2, 1919

                                                                                                            March 2, 1919                                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                            Marson, France

To My Dear Sweetheart,

            Yes, Sunday comes just as regular as Monday follows, and yes, one more week nearer our grand meeting. The heading of the letter will tell you I’m back to the company again.  They came after us yesterday morning.  I wanted to get back for two reasons.  First for my mail, and 2^nd for the pleasure of being with Geo., but I was deprived of one.  Geo. was out on detail and I don’t know when he will be back.  So I will have to go back without seeing him for we leave this afternoon.  I’m at the mess hall.  They have a new one now, so it does away with eating outside standing in mud and rain.

            Now to tell you how happy I was just to get those loving messages from you, dear.  It had been a week since I had received any mail.  Last Sunday just after I had finished writing, the mail came in, but I sent your letter without telling you I had received mail. Yours of January 27, 29, 31 came then.  Yesterday when I came home, I received February 3, 5, 7.  It surely made me feel much better, for mail from home seems to have an unknown being attached to it which makes every fiber of my body tingle when I am reading them.  No, they don’t lose their meaning by reading them more than once.  For I read and reread them, especially in my longing hours.

            You say Bessie is such a beautiful writer.   I agree with you, but if I were marking yours and hers, do you know where the line would be drawn?  Well, I do … yours, dear. For they, mean more to me than anything else in the world.  More so “over Here,” but when I get back all I want is you and you only, dear.  You and Bessie better have all your fun before Geo. and I get back; for then, our time starts.  We are going to have two months off just for pleasure. Don’t you think we deserve it, dear?  If you don’t, of course, we will do the next the next best thing.

            It makes me feel like I was really being thought of back there, for I just received a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Mortensen and Needa.  And what do you think they sent me?  A birthday present.  A large, white, silk handkerchief.  It surely is a beauty.  It seems to me that it is a little out of place in the army, for white things are very rare here. 

            It made me feel very much better that you had received the Christmas parcel I sent.  Of course you must not buy and send me one.  Remember, the army life (over Here) is not the place to receive presents, so just keep it until I return. I have a number of other things I would like to send you just as soon as I get time to get them arranged.

            Well, I just finished the letter of February 10^th.  It is surely is one that sinks deep in one’s heart.  For I know, and I have always had the opinion, that you were living in such a way that you can ask God for His blessings for both of us.  For we are both subject to sin and temptations.  You surely have my love and deep appreciations for those who have done so much for us (our mothers). 

            When you mention Sunday school, it makes me a little bit lonely, and I long to be there once more.  But when my time is finished over here, I’ll be back to those dear kiddies of mine:  both at Clinton and home.  They surely are not forgotten, even if I haven’t written to them, so you tell them hello and wishing them God speed is the best wishes of their teacher.

            Well dear, I’m afraid you will think my time is never going to come, but word came last week that the 88^th would not sail or was not to sail before July.  So do not take it too hard for things “over Here” begin to look brighter and the weather is much warmer.  They are planning and making “Y”s and places of amusements for us.  As long as I keep well and receive my mail from home, I will be able to stand it.   It has given us an idea as to when we are to leave and not keeping us in suspense as we have been for the last three months.  They are sending the divisions home according to the way they came over.  We are along toward the last.  Now dear, keep cheerful and look on the bright side of life and before long I’ll be back to you.  Some people are so lucky anyway.

            Well it is almost mess time for they are coming in now.  So I must say goodbye for another week.  There has been one thing I want to tell you that I’ve almost forgotten to.  Thanks for the gum you have been sending and all you are going to send.  If you don’t mind it, you need not send any more paper.  For we can get plenty now.  Thanks my dear just the same.

            Well, always remember there is a brighter day coming for us so have a cheerful heart and may God ever be near you in the love I send to you. 

                                                                                                Henry   X O X O X

                                                                                                Corp. H. D. Call

                                                                                                Co. A. 313^th Engineers

                                                                                                American Ex. Force  A.P.O. 795
Censored by:

Lt. H. L Gray

Co. A. 313 Engineers