TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR MARCH 7, 1919 P. 1
Menil Aux Bais, France. Jan. 25, 1919.
Mrs. Catherine Anderson:
My Dear Mother:
Will try to answer your letter of Jan 7th which I received today. It made the trip in 18 days. Was sure glad to hear from all of you; also glad to hear that you were all well. I am all to the good. Have had some cold but am all OK now.
It has been pretty cold here for the past week. It is the first real cold weather we have had; hope it don't get any worse.
I have seen some interesting things here in France, but the most interesting thing I have seen is the ground where the fighting has taken place. The ground is just a net-work of trenches. with dug-outs along them. I have seen the old Hindenburg Line. It is sure some sight to see. There are lots of concrete dug-outs and machine gun pits along the line. I have seen the house where the president of France was born. It is sure a fine house. The grave yards here are pretty: all kinds of fancy tombstones and fancy artificial flowers on them. We have several kinds of entertainments here at the Y.M.C.A. Had a moving picture show last night. Have had some good entertainments by (real) American girls, sure enjoy them. These French are not very interesting. I think they must belong to the wooden shoe age. Their civilization is about 100 years behind time.
When I get home you must make me a stack of hot cakes as high as my rifle is long and then put two or three dozen on top of them. I guess you think I am hungry, ha, ha. We get all we want to eat, but I miss the fruit and cake most. I think I would give 100 francs for all the canned peaches and huckleberries I could eat.
I will close for this time. Answer soon. From
Pvt. Jesse O. Anderson, Co. I. 137th Inf., A.E.F.
NOTES: Jesse Owen Anderson was born in Barnes, Arkansas on August 12,1893 and died on June 13, 1973. He is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He enlisted on June 15, 1918 and was discharged on May 9, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Menil Aux Bais, France. Jan. 25, 1919.
Mrs. Catherine Anderson:
My Dear Mother:
Will try to answer your letter of Jan 7th which I received today. It made the trip in 18 days. Was sure glad to hear from all of you; also glad to hear that you were all well. I am all to the good. Have had some cold but am all OK now.
It has been pretty cold here for the past week. It is the first real cold weather we have had; hope it don't get any worse.
I have seen some interesting things here in France, but the most interesting thing I have seen is the ground where the fighting has taken place. The ground is just a net-work of trenches. with dug-outs along them. I have seen the old Hindenburg Line. It is sure some sight to see. There are lots of concrete dug-outs and machine gun pits along the line. I have seen the house where the president of France was born. It is sure a fine house. The grave yards here are pretty: all kinds of fancy tombstones and fancy artificial flowers on them. We have several kinds of entertainments here at the Y.M.C.A. Had a moving picture show last night. Have had some good entertainments by (real) American girls, sure enjoy them. These French are not very interesting. I think they must belong to the wooden shoe age. Their civilization is about 100 years behind time.
When I get home you must make me a stack of hot cakes as high as my rifle is long and then put two or three dozen on top of them. I guess you think I am hungry, ha, ha. We get all we want to eat, but I miss the fruit and cake most. I think I would give 100 francs for all the canned peaches and huckleberries I could eat.
I will close for this time. Answer soon. From
Pvt. Jesse O. Anderson, Co. I. 137th Inf., A.E.F.
NOTES: Jesse Owen Anderson was born in Barnes, Arkansas on August 12,1893 and died on June 13, 1973. He is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He enlisted on June 15, 1918 and was discharged on May 9, 1919.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD