TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR JANUARY 3, 1919 P. 4
Olicorn, France, Nov. 28, 1918.
Mrs. Bonnie Anderson:
My Dear Sweet Wife:
As I am not busy today I will write you a small part of my feelings, as this is Thanksgiving we observe it as a holiday in France. The American boys, we are having a pleasant time in spite of the weather. It has been raining for the last two or three days. It's putting in the day today. I think it is awful cool to rain, but it keeps on raining. I wish you could have been around to help us eat our dinner today. To begin with the camp is located just at the edge of a small French town in a level country with just about as much evergreen as any other kind of timber. The ground is green with grass, and some is set in cabbage, turnips, etc. at our kitchen, which is located in a wood shed just at the edge of a group of buildings, which are costly buildings but look like they are a hundred years old, still they are pretty. They are all built of stone and concrete and are all occupied by soldiers and the wood shed is used for kitchen and dining room. Today the kitchen was decorated with evergreens, such as pine and different kinds of fern. The table that the dinner was served on had two large flags--Stars and Stripes--one on each side and two smaller French flags in the center arranged so as to form an arch for the boys, who formed a line about 200 yards long, to march under to get their dinner. A nice dinner too, composed of boiled beef, chicken, gravy, smished potatoes, butter, lettuce, pumpkin pie, light bread and conee. Believe me, it was certainly a good Thanksgiving dinner and the boys all enjoyed. I am so full now I can't hardly set easy.
You will have to excuse my writing for my table is composed of my blankets folded up and I am using my rifle for a lean-back. I happen to be located in a barn on the second floor. 'Tis a good place to sleep.
I met some of the boys who were on the front, and 'tis a pitiful story to listen to. I consider myself lucky not to have to fight any. I don't care if I don't have to go to the fron't. I think I will be on my way back home soon, altho a person can't tell where he is going next in the army, I think you can look for me any time between New Year and Easter. This will be a happy little meeting down in Arkansas when I do come home.
I love the States better than any place I have found yet. I am learning to be a real soldier and to love my country. I do not expect to hear from you or any one else until I get back in the State. One month ago today I sailed out of Hoboken, New Jersey and four days sooner I left Camp Pike and I haven't heard from no one since. I dont know just how I would feel if I could get a letter from home. So I can't think of any more just now I will close trusting you are in the best of health I will close. Yours as ever until I return.
Robert C. Anderson
Co. 6 Oct. A.R.D. Camp Pike
A.E.F. France
NOTES: Robert Chester Anderson was born on July 13, 1896 in either Cass or Barnes, Arkansas. He died on March 15, 1962 an is buried in the Rose Hill Memorial Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Private serving in Co. I 157th Infantry. He enlisted on September 6, 1918 and was discharged on April 26, 1919. He served in the 40th Division. He was writing to his wife, Bonnie.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Olicorn, France, Nov. 28, 1918.
Mrs. Bonnie Anderson:
My Dear Sweet Wife:
As I am not busy today I will write you a small part of my feelings, as this is Thanksgiving we observe it as a holiday in France. The American boys, we are having a pleasant time in spite of the weather. It has been raining for the last two or three days. It's putting in the day today. I think it is awful cool to rain, but it keeps on raining. I wish you could have been around to help us eat our dinner today. To begin with the camp is located just at the edge of a small French town in a level country with just about as much evergreen as any other kind of timber. The ground is green with grass, and some is set in cabbage, turnips, etc. at our kitchen, which is located in a wood shed just at the edge of a group of buildings, which are costly buildings but look like they are a hundred years old, still they are pretty. They are all built of stone and concrete and are all occupied by soldiers and the wood shed is used for kitchen and dining room. Today the kitchen was decorated with evergreens, such as pine and different kinds of fern. The table that the dinner was served on had two large flags--Stars and Stripes--one on each side and two smaller French flags in the center arranged so as to form an arch for the boys, who formed a line about 200 yards long, to march under to get their dinner. A nice dinner too, composed of boiled beef, chicken, gravy, smished potatoes, butter, lettuce, pumpkin pie, light bread and conee. Believe me, it was certainly a good Thanksgiving dinner and the boys all enjoyed. I am so full now I can't hardly set easy.
You will have to excuse my writing for my table is composed of my blankets folded up and I am using my rifle for a lean-back. I happen to be located in a barn on the second floor. 'Tis a good place to sleep.
I met some of the boys who were on the front, and 'tis a pitiful story to listen to. I consider myself lucky not to have to fight any. I don't care if I don't have to go to the fron't. I think I will be on my way back home soon, altho a person can't tell where he is going next in the army, I think you can look for me any time between New Year and Easter. This will be a happy little meeting down in Arkansas when I do come home.
I love the States better than any place I have found yet. I am learning to be a real soldier and to love my country. I do not expect to hear from you or any one else until I get back in the State. One month ago today I sailed out of Hoboken, New Jersey and four days sooner I left Camp Pike and I haven't heard from no one since. I dont know just how I would feel if I could get a letter from home. So I can't think of any more just now I will close trusting you are in the best of health I will close. Yours as ever until I return.
Robert C. Anderson
Co. 6 Oct. A.R.D. Camp Pike
A.E.F. France
NOTES: Robert Chester Anderson was born on July 13, 1896 in either Cass or Barnes, Arkansas. He died on March 15, 1962 an is buried in the Rose Hill Memorial Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Private serving in Co. I 157th Infantry. He enlisted on September 6, 1918 and was discharged on April 26, 1919. He served in the 40th Division. He was writing to his wife, Bonnie.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD