TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DAILY ARKANSAS GAZETTE FEBRUARY 23, 1919 P. 2
Who ever thought this time last January I would be “hiking in Germany.” But just the same, I’m right here. We are stationed on the Rhine near Andernache. I have been in several of Germany’s largest cities and they are worth seeing. Germany had France outclassed in more ways than one. They have houses here that are as nice as ours in the states and some of the prettiest country I have ever seen. Their mountains are not very high, but are covered with spruce and fir trees and the prettiest rock cliffs. Their rivers are about as large as our creeks; can’t help but laugh when I have to call it a river. But they are real swift and the people use them so much for turning the mills and manufacturing plants. Enough said about Germany.
Today we got some things from the “Y,” and I had the good luck to get 14 packs of cigarettes and one jar of jam. You ought to have been here over Xmas. We celebrated just the same, even if we were in Germany. Had a little fir tree we decorated, but the most important part was the eats. Most of the boys had their Xmas boxes, so we bought all the beer we thought we could possibly use, then made hot chocolate. Now, maybe you think we didn’t eat. Of course, mamma, it was not like sitting down to your table with the linen cover and silver fork, but am going to do that next Xmas.
Don’t know when we will get out of this country, but seems to me that I have hiked enough kilometers to have been home by this time if I had gone in that direction all the time. They can’t land me in America soon enough.
NOTES: This letter was written by Holyer B. Baker to his parents, Mr. and Mrs., J. W. Baker of Hermitage, Arkansas. When he departed for France, August 6, 1918 he was listed as a MUS Co I, 153rd Infantry, 39 Division. While in France he was assigned to Co. G. 126th Infantry and was the bugler. He was born on January 22, 1899 in Arkansas. By 1900 his family was living in Bradley County, Arkansas. He died on June 17, 1950 and is buried in the White Chapel Memorial Park in Troy, Michigan.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Who ever thought this time last January I would be “hiking in Germany.” But just the same, I’m right here. We are stationed on the Rhine near Andernache. I have been in several of Germany’s largest cities and they are worth seeing. Germany had France outclassed in more ways than one. They have houses here that are as nice as ours in the states and some of the prettiest country I have ever seen. Their mountains are not very high, but are covered with spruce and fir trees and the prettiest rock cliffs. Their rivers are about as large as our creeks; can’t help but laugh when I have to call it a river. But they are real swift and the people use them so much for turning the mills and manufacturing plants. Enough said about Germany.
Today we got some things from the “Y,” and I had the good luck to get 14 packs of cigarettes and one jar of jam. You ought to have been here over Xmas. We celebrated just the same, even if we were in Germany. Had a little fir tree we decorated, but the most important part was the eats. Most of the boys had their Xmas boxes, so we bought all the beer we thought we could possibly use, then made hot chocolate. Now, maybe you think we didn’t eat. Of course, mamma, it was not like sitting down to your table with the linen cover and silver fork, but am going to do that next Xmas.
Don’t know when we will get out of this country, but seems to me that I have hiked enough kilometers to have been home by this time if I had gone in that direction all the time. They can’t land me in America soon enough.
NOTES: This letter was written by Holyer B. Baker to his parents, Mr. and Mrs., J. W. Baker of Hermitage, Arkansas. When he departed for France, August 6, 1918 he was listed as a MUS Co I, 153rd Infantry, 39 Division. While in France he was assigned to Co. G. 126th Infantry and was the bugler. He was born on January 22, 1899 in Arkansas. By 1900 his family was living in Bradley County, Arkansas. He died on June 17, 1950 and is buried in the White Chapel Memorial Park in Troy, Michigan.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT