TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS JANUARY 4, 1918 P. 8
The letter I received was written on November 4. You said for me to give the other two boys your regards. I haven’t seen or heard of Ike since I came over here, but Tom and I are close together, and have been since we came over. You spoke about me not getting your letters. I guess I have got all of them, but you know we have been on the front for some time, and of course we can’t write nor receive mail while we are at the front.
Well, we had some excitement while at the front. We were there fourteen days, but it was some experience I must say. Papa, you spoke about the people of the States feeling the war. I just wish you could see the people of France. I am sure sorry for this poor country. We have been over most of the country since we came over, and I don’t believe there are fifty homes in France but what some very close relatives have been killed or wounded, and many of them that are close to the front have had their homes completely destroyed by those big shells or bombs from aeroplanes. Many women are doing men’s work. Nearly every field you see has some old man who is all stooped and ready for the grave, and many old women the same way. Every young man you see is in uniform. Just wait till we have four or five hundred thousand of our young boys killed off, then the people of the States can realize we are at war, but until that time they will never fully realize it.
Of course we haven’t had much experience in real fighting, but we have sure had some training. Well, Papa, I will go up and see Tom to-morrow and show him your letter, for we can’t write just when we want to, but every time I get a chance I will write to you. So good-bye for this time.
J. F. Abbott
Supply Sergeant, Battery E, 7th F. A.
NOTES: Joshua Franklin Abbott was born on March 6, 1892 in Barry, Missouri and died in Muskogee, Oklahoma on October 26, 1948. He is buried in the Elmwood Cemetry in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. His headstone application stated that he served in the 28th FA. Abbott was writing to his father David L. Abbott.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
The letter I received was written on November 4. You said for me to give the other two boys your regards. I haven’t seen or heard of Ike since I came over here, but Tom and I are close together, and have been since we came over. You spoke about me not getting your letters. I guess I have got all of them, but you know we have been on the front for some time, and of course we can’t write nor receive mail while we are at the front.
Well, we had some excitement while at the front. We were there fourteen days, but it was some experience I must say. Papa, you spoke about the people of the States feeling the war. I just wish you could see the people of France. I am sure sorry for this poor country. We have been over most of the country since we came over, and I don’t believe there are fifty homes in France but what some very close relatives have been killed or wounded, and many of them that are close to the front have had their homes completely destroyed by those big shells or bombs from aeroplanes. Many women are doing men’s work. Nearly every field you see has some old man who is all stooped and ready for the grave, and many old women the same way. Every young man you see is in uniform. Just wait till we have four or five hundred thousand of our young boys killed off, then the people of the States can realize we are at war, but until that time they will never fully realize it.
Of course we haven’t had much experience in real fighting, but we have sure had some training. Well, Papa, I will go up and see Tom to-morrow and show him your letter, for we can’t write just when we want to, but every time I get a chance I will write to you. So good-bye for this time.
J. F. Abbott
Supply Sergeant, Battery E, 7th F. A.
NOTES: Joshua Franklin Abbott was born on March 6, 1892 in Barry, Missouri and died in Muskogee, Oklahoma on October 26, 1948. He is buried in the Elmwood Cemetry in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. His headstone application stated that he served in the 28th FA. Abbott was writing to his father David L. Abbott.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS