TRANSCRIBED FROM THE POCAHONTAS STAR HERALD JANUARY 3, 1919 P. 7
France, Nov. 6, 1918.
Dearest Folks at Home:
I suppose you think that you are never going to hear from me. I have not written to you as often as I should since I have been in France, but we have been shifting around so much that it has been hard to find a chance to write, and again there is so little I can tell you about myself in regard to where I am and what I am doing, on account of not being permitted to give any definite information, that it has a tendency to make a fellow want to give up the idea of writing.
I cannot tell where I landed, where I have been, where I am now, how long I have been here, so you see about all I can say regarding myself is that I am in excellent health and am getting along very nicely with my work. I believe I told you I was appointed Battalion Adjutant before leaving the States. I am still acting in that capacity and am liking it better every day. To be an Adjutant in France is rather an important position and it is really an honor to be one. The promotions are very slow over here and in all probability I will not receive another promotions during the emergency and too we are expecting the war to end most any time.
While I am kept very busy, still I have a day off occasionly, and as I am stationed near a large city, I can always manage to have a good time while away. We have to work much harder here than we did while in the States. All this war is for now is to kill Huns, and the quicker we kill all of them the sooner we will get back to God’s country.
I am now in probably the most interesting part of France. France is a wonderful country and I am already in love with it. Its architectures, customs and historic cities are unusually interesting, but nevertheless with all of France’s interesting features, I had much rather be in the good old U. S. A. The French people are a wonderful people and deserve nothing but the highest praise. They are as a rule, small and look slow, but it is the little French “Poilu” who are making it hard for the Huns, except the Sammies when they are given a chance. The American boys are so anxious to fight that when they get near the kine of battle it is a hard matter to keep them from going over the top. A few weeks ago the Sammies were making an attack and one of the French commanders sent word to a Major, who was commanding a certain division, and said: “do not let your men advance so fast, hold them back;” and the reply was, “how in the H— am I going to hold them when the Germans can’t.” This expresses the manner in which the American boys are going after the Huns.
When I come home I will certainly have lots to tell you. It is a wonderful study to observe these French people. You can hardly believe the sacrifices they have made and the hardships they are undergoing, and yet they are always cheerful and have plenty of hope. The women do all kinds of hard labor and it looks quite strange to an American to see them work like men, yet they do it and seem to be very happy. The French women idolize the men and they are always glad when they can do something that will help them. I like the French girls. They are very kind and nice and try powerfully hard to entertain us, they are very fond of American officers and do everything they can to make it pleasant for us. In fact all of the French people are very kind to the American soldiers. They are very loyal and are noted for their optimism.
The French people are the most polite people in the world, they are big hearted and meet the Americans with open arms. They seem to have great faith in the Americans as soldiers and friends, and I think they may have such faith in them. We have done a great deal for the war stricken people in France. The welcome we receive by the French warm our heart and we are at once in sympathy with these people. We see the Huns as the French see them and we are forced to realize if the Huns are not stopped now they will some day be in America, and America will suffer as France has suffered. When a man realizes this, his life does not mean anything to him to give for the cause, and believe me when the Huns run up against the Sammies after they have established themselves along the front, they are running up against something far stronger than France or England has ever been. It did not take them very long to realize this after they had come in contact with our boys.
I wish I could tell you more about my trip, but as I am not allowed to say very much, I will state however that we arrived at the extreme western point of France and kept going until we got on German soil. I have heard the cannons roar and have seen several air fights.
On the way over I certainly did get seasick. I thought my time had come. However, we had a very pleasant voyage, no excitement whatever.
I have said about all I can think of just now and will write you again within a short time. Do not worry about me, I am being taken good care of. I have much better treatment now than I did when an enlisted man. The accomodations are much better for me than you might think.
Remember I think of all of you often and I love you dearly. Write me a good long letter very soon for I am very anxious to hear from you.
Yours Lovingly,
Rufus Baker.
NOTES: Rufus Kale Baker was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas on December 12, 1887 and died in Bay Pines, Florida on July 29, 1967. At the time he entered the service he was a clerk in a local hotel. He is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas. His military headstone identifies him as a Capt. QMC in WWI.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
France, Nov. 6, 1918.
Dearest Folks at Home:
I suppose you think that you are never going to hear from me. I have not written to you as often as I should since I have been in France, but we have been shifting around so much that it has been hard to find a chance to write, and again there is so little I can tell you about myself in regard to where I am and what I am doing, on account of not being permitted to give any definite information, that it has a tendency to make a fellow want to give up the idea of writing.
I cannot tell where I landed, where I have been, where I am now, how long I have been here, so you see about all I can say regarding myself is that I am in excellent health and am getting along very nicely with my work. I believe I told you I was appointed Battalion Adjutant before leaving the States. I am still acting in that capacity and am liking it better every day. To be an Adjutant in France is rather an important position and it is really an honor to be one. The promotions are very slow over here and in all probability I will not receive another promotions during the emergency and too we are expecting the war to end most any time.
While I am kept very busy, still I have a day off occasionly, and as I am stationed near a large city, I can always manage to have a good time while away. We have to work much harder here than we did while in the States. All this war is for now is to kill Huns, and the quicker we kill all of them the sooner we will get back to God’s country.
I am now in probably the most interesting part of France. France is a wonderful country and I am already in love with it. Its architectures, customs and historic cities are unusually interesting, but nevertheless with all of France’s interesting features, I had much rather be in the good old U. S. A. The French people are a wonderful people and deserve nothing but the highest praise. They are as a rule, small and look slow, but it is the little French “Poilu” who are making it hard for the Huns, except the Sammies when they are given a chance. The American boys are so anxious to fight that when they get near the kine of battle it is a hard matter to keep them from going over the top. A few weeks ago the Sammies were making an attack and one of the French commanders sent word to a Major, who was commanding a certain division, and said: “do not let your men advance so fast, hold them back;” and the reply was, “how in the H— am I going to hold them when the Germans can’t.” This expresses the manner in which the American boys are going after the Huns.
When I come home I will certainly have lots to tell you. It is a wonderful study to observe these French people. You can hardly believe the sacrifices they have made and the hardships they are undergoing, and yet they are always cheerful and have plenty of hope. The women do all kinds of hard labor and it looks quite strange to an American to see them work like men, yet they do it and seem to be very happy. The French women idolize the men and they are always glad when they can do something that will help them. I like the French girls. They are very kind and nice and try powerfully hard to entertain us, they are very fond of American officers and do everything they can to make it pleasant for us. In fact all of the French people are very kind to the American soldiers. They are very loyal and are noted for their optimism.
The French people are the most polite people in the world, they are big hearted and meet the Americans with open arms. They seem to have great faith in the Americans as soldiers and friends, and I think they may have such faith in them. We have done a great deal for the war stricken people in France. The welcome we receive by the French warm our heart and we are at once in sympathy with these people. We see the Huns as the French see them and we are forced to realize if the Huns are not stopped now they will some day be in America, and America will suffer as France has suffered. When a man realizes this, his life does not mean anything to him to give for the cause, and believe me when the Huns run up against the Sammies after they have established themselves along the front, they are running up against something far stronger than France or England has ever been. It did not take them very long to realize this after they had come in contact with our boys.
I wish I could tell you more about my trip, but as I am not allowed to say very much, I will state however that we arrived at the extreme western point of France and kept going until we got on German soil. I have heard the cannons roar and have seen several air fights.
On the way over I certainly did get seasick. I thought my time had come. However, we had a very pleasant voyage, no excitement whatever.
I have said about all I can think of just now and will write you again within a short time. Do not worry about me, I am being taken good care of. I have much better treatment now than I did when an enlisted man. The accomodations are much better for me than you might think.
Remember I think of all of you often and I love you dearly. Write me a good long letter very soon for I am very anxious to hear from you.
Yours Lovingly,
Rufus Baker.
NOTES: Rufus Kale Baker was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas on December 12, 1887 and died in Bay Pines, Florida on July 29, 1967. At the time he entered the service he was a clerk in a local hotel. He is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas. His military headstone identifies him as a Capt. QMC in WWI.
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS