TRANSCRIBED FROM THE VAN BUREN COUNTY DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 20, 1918 P. 2
August 10th
"Somewhere in France,"
I am feeling fine and enjoying myself as well as could be expected under the existing conditions. In the first place, we didn't come here for a good time. We landed somewhere, some time ago, off some boat and have been doing about most all the time. That's about all the information I can give you. See, we are allowed to write just so much on that subject and therefore it is difficult to write an interesting letter.
But the experience of a trip like this is real interesting. I have not been around over the country much. But I don't think we're permanently located, and I suppose won't be until we have established our overseas headquarters and hoisted Old Glory at the top of a pole in the once famous Berlin. And I hope that's not long off.
One think of interest I have seen was a fine view of the Alps, and some buildings and other equipment used by the great Napoleon. I have slept in one of his old barracks. While at work the other day I found a copper coin made in the year 1019. I have seen an old cathedral that is more than 1400 years old. I will have a hat full of souvenirs when I get back home if I keep gathering up old junk. Say, I received a Clinton paper yesterday it was the 5th of July issue, and I was sure glad to get it. I haven't received a letter since I have been over here, so you can imagine how glad a fellow feels to get a copy of the paper.
We are going to have a big basket ball game tomorrow. I wish you were over here to call the game. They play too rough for me. We haven't the good team here that we once had at the old Clinton State High, but we have lots of fun. We also have base ball and foot ball.
They have completed a nice Y.M.C.A. hut here. We have piano music, singing and sometimes a "stag" dance. I tell you it is wonderful what the Y.M.C. and Red Cross are doing for us. I notice in the paper your Red Cross club is doing good work. Bully for them. If it was not for their help we would all go "nutty" in a very short time.
Asking you to give my best wishes to all my old friends and tell them to write me. I remain, etc.
JOHN H. ARNHART,
Co. B. 19th Engrs, A E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by John Henry Arnhart to his friend Professor James S. Burnett, Arnhart was born in Crabtree, Arkansas on May 27, 1895 and died on September 6, 1959. He is buried in the Crabtree Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas. He departed Hoboken, NJ on July 9, 1918 onboard the France. He was serving as a Private in Co. B 49th Engineers Railway Maintenance of Equipment. He departed Brest, France onboard the Liberator on June 3, 1919 an arrived in Brooklyn, NY on June 16. He was serving as a Private in the 71st Co. Transportation Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
August 10th
"Somewhere in France,"
I am feeling fine and enjoying myself as well as could be expected under the existing conditions. In the first place, we didn't come here for a good time. We landed somewhere, some time ago, off some boat and have been doing about most all the time. That's about all the information I can give you. See, we are allowed to write just so much on that subject and therefore it is difficult to write an interesting letter.
But the experience of a trip like this is real interesting. I have not been around over the country much. But I don't think we're permanently located, and I suppose won't be until we have established our overseas headquarters and hoisted Old Glory at the top of a pole in the once famous Berlin. And I hope that's not long off.
One think of interest I have seen was a fine view of the Alps, and some buildings and other equipment used by the great Napoleon. I have slept in one of his old barracks. While at work the other day I found a copper coin made in the year 1019. I have seen an old cathedral that is more than 1400 years old. I will have a hat full of souvenirs when I get back home if I keep gathering up old junk. Say, I received a Clinton paper yesterday it was the 5th of July issue, and I was sure glad to get it. I haven't received a letter since I have been over here, so you can imagine how glad a fellow feels to get a copy of the paper.
We are going to have a big basket ball game tomorrow. I wish you were over here to call the game. They play too rough for me. We haven't the good team here that we once had at the old Clinton State High, but we have lots of fun. We also have base ball and foot ball.
They have completed a nice Y.M.C.A. hut here. We have piano music, singing and sometimes a "stag" dance. I tell you it is wonderful what the Y.M.C. and Red Cross are doing for us. I notice in the paper your Red Cross club is doing good work. Bully for them. If it was not for their help we would all go "nutty" in a very short time.
Asking you to give my best wishes to all my old friends and tell them to write me. I remain, etc.
JOHN H. ARNHART,
Co. B. 19th Engrs, A E.F.
NOTES: This letter was written by John Henry Arnhart to his friend Professor James S. Burnett, Arnhart was born in Crabtree, Arkansas on May 27, 1895 and died on September 6, 1959. He is buried in the Crabtree Cemetery in Clinton, Arkansas. He departed Hoboken, NJ on July 9, 1918 onboard the France. He was serving as a Private in Co. B 49th Engineers Railway Maintenance of Equipment. He departed Brest, France onboard the Liberator on June 3, 1919 an arrived in Brooklyn, NY on June 16. He was serving as a Private in the 71st Co. Transportation Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD