TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR JULY 15, 1919 P. 1
"Somewhere in Germany"
June 24th, 1919.
Dear Dad:
Will try to write you tonight. We've hiked 70 kilometers in the last two days and at present are camped near the border of the neutral zone waiting to see if the Dutchmen are going to sign peace. If they don't, it means an advance into 'Germany, and as we expect without resistance; and if they do resist, Lord help 'em. There's quite a picked bunch of Yanks, English and French in the A. of O., and they don't think much of Fritz.
It was just like old times yesterday to have the French cavalry double banking us all along the road. It was the same division that was with the 2nd at Soissons, and we had some great times kidding them along the route. Their artillery and ours passed us all along, but of course we passed them later.
I've seen everybody I ever knew in the Marines, during the last three days as the whole outfit is stuck pretty close together up here.
The first day's hike was bad. We had to work practically all night turning in extra stuff and drawing stuff we needed. Not an officer in the company went to bed, and we started hiking at seven and hiked till six. However, I wasn't carrying anything and it feels much better too. Did carry something most of the time but it wasn't mine, just helping some fellow along who was pretty well played out.
There's very little doubt but that the Huns will sign the treaty and if they don't there's no doubt but that we'll have a hike--nothing else. Any way we're all set to do what should have been done long ago, and every man of us here would welcome a chance to quit marking time I think.
We're pretty well fixed here living in pup tents, though there's quite a shortage of water.
I'm making it fine with the 95th Company, couldn't ask for a better place or a better bunch of officers.
The weather up here is fine now, havn't had a rainy day for two months. It rained a couple of nights but never in the day time.
There isn't much for me to write about. We're a long way up from where we were as we didn't start straight into the neutral zone, but have traveled around the border to a point between the French and American armies of occupation. The English are coming in through our old territory down below.
Will write again in a day or two. I havn't received any mail for about a week probably won't get any more till we get back.
Think I'll go over and see Frank Sculler tonight. He might have a home paper.
As ever,
Theron
Lt. 95th Co. 6th Regt.
U.S. Marines
NOTES: Theron Wesley Agee was born on December 21, 1896 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on January 2, 1985. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Ozark. He enlisted on June 3, 1917 and was discharged on August 16. 1919. He departed Brest, France on July 25,1919 onboard the Ryndam. He arrived in Brooklyn, NY on August 4, 1919. He was serving as a 2nd Lieut Co. D 6th Marines.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
"Somewhere in Germany"
June 24th, 1919.
Dear Dad:
Will try to write you tonight. We've hiked 70 kilometers in the last two days and at present are camped near the border of the neutral zone waiting to see if the Dutchmen are going to sign peace. If they don't, it means an advance into 'Germany, and as we expect without resistance; and if they do resist, Lord help 'em. There's quite a picked bunch of Yanks, English and French in the A. of O., and they don't think much of Fritz.
It was just like old times yesterday to have the French cavalry double banking us all along the road. It was the same division that was with the 2nd at Soissons, and we had some great times kidding them along the route. Their artillery and ours passed us all along, but of course we passed them later.
I've seen everybody I ever knew in the Marines, during the last three days as the whole outfit is stuck pretty close together up here.
The first day's hike was bad. We had to work practically all night turning in extra stuff and drawing stuff we needed. Not an officer in the company went to bed, and we started hiking at seven and hiked till six. However, I wasn't carrying anything and it feels much better too. Did carry something most of the time but it wasn't mine, just helping some fellow along who was pretty well played out.
There's very little doubt but that the Huns will sign the treaty and if they don't there's no doubt but that we'll have a hike--nothing else. Any way we're all set to do what should have been done long ago, and every man of us here would welcome a chance to quit marking time I think.
We're pretty well fixed here living in pup tents, though there's quite a shortage of water.
I'm making it fine with the 95th Company, couldn't ask for a better place or a better bunch of officers.
The weather up here is fine now, havn't had a rainy day for two months. It rained a couple of nights but never in the day time.
There isn't much for me to write about. We're a long way up from where we were as we didn't start straight into the neutral zone, but have traveled around the border to a point between the French and American armies of occupation. The English are coming in through our old territory down below.
Will write again in a day or two. I havn't received any mail for about a week probably won't get any more till we get back.
Think I'll go over and see Frank Sculler tonight. He might have a home paper.
As ever,
Theron
Lt. 95th Co. 6th Regt.
U.S. Marines
NOTES: Theron Wesley Agee was born on December 21, 1896 in Ozark, Arkansas and died on January 2, 1985. He is buried in the Highland Cemetery in Ozark. He enlisted on June 3, 1917 and was discharged on August 16. 1919. He departed Brest, France on July 25,1919 onboard the Ryndam. He arrived in Brooklyn, NY on August 4, 1919. He was serving as a 2nd Lieut Co. D 6th Marines.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD