TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPECTATOR NOVEMBER 5, 1918 P. 1
Somewhere in France.
Mr. W. A. Barnes
Dear Father:
Will answer your letter received today.
Was glad to hear from you and to hear you all were well. I am Just fine and dandy, hope all are in the best of health.
I have been feeling find for some time, and weigh more now than I have since I have been in the army.
I was sorry to hear of the drought in the States, but I feel sure you will come out all O.K.
Some of the boys are making a drill ground out of the barracks and are making so much noise I can hardly write but we must have some fun as we go along.
I got a letter from all the girls the other day they were all well. I got a letter from Bertha and one from Gertrude.
They must have had a drought in Texas, by Bob not making any more cotton than he did. Bessie said it had been dry there. I got a letter from her that was written the 20th of Aug. yours was written the 25th of Aug. I guess you have got several letters from me by this time I have written a good many anyway.
And it has been dry in Okla. too. It did not rain here for two months after we got over here but has been raining lots lately.
You said I ought to learn French language. I can speak a little of it already, am going to learn all of it I can. They can speak our language but our language is not so hard to learn as theirs.
I am sending you an un franc note and, a 50 centimes the un franc note is worth about 18cts. and the 50 centimes is worth about 9 cents. They also have a 2, 5, 10, 20, 59 and 100 franc notes, an un franc is the same as one dollar, and it takes 2 centimes to make one franc.
You said mama would knit me some socks and send them over I guess they would get here all O.K., the Red Cross gave me 2 pairs of wool sox and a woolen sweater, and they are fine believe me.
I guess you will not make more cotton than you can gather if you do just send for the U.S. Soldiers, they can do anything (Ha, Ha).
I guess I ought not to have told you what that money was and let you guess at it awhile. These people have curious ways, they are good people alright, they are clever, and they think we Americans are about IT.
I forgot one kind of money they have here it is a kind of metal, and has a round hole in the center.
Well I will close for this time hoping to hear from you agrin soon.
Your son,
Edgar E. Barnes
NOTES: Edgar Everette Barnes was writing to his father, William A. Barnes. Barnes was born in Ozark, Arkansas on February 24, 1890 and died on February 7, 1955. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Poteau, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Oklahoma Private serving in 315th TM Btry 90th Division. He enlisted on April 26, 1918 and was discharged on March 17, 1919. He served in a Trench Mortar Battery. He departed New York, NY on June 29, 1918 onboard the Demosthenes. He departed St. Nazaire, France on march 1, 1919 onboard the Iowan. he arrived in Hoboken, NJ on March 12, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in the 315 Trench Mortar Battery Camp Bowie, Texas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Somewhere in France.
Mr. W. A. Barnes
Dear Father:
Will answer your letter received today.
Was glad to hear from you and to hear you all were well. I am Just fine and dandy, hope all are in the best of health.
I have been feeling find for some time, and weigh more now than I have since I have been in the army.
I was sorry to hear of the drought in the States, but I feel sure you will come out all O.K.
Some of the boys are making a drill ground out of the barracks and are making so much noise I can hardly write but we must have some fun as we go along.
I got a letter from all the girls the other day they were all well. I got a letter from Bertha and one from Gertrude.
They must have had a drought in Texas, by Bob not making any more cotton than he did. Bessie said it had been dry there. I got a letter from her that was written the 20th of Aug. yours was written the 25th of Aug. I guess you have got several letters from me by this time I have written a good many anyway.
And it has been dry in Okla. too. It did not rain here for two months after we got over here but has been raining lots lately.
You said I ought to learn French language. I can speak a little of it already, am going to learn all of it I can. They can speak our language but our language is not so hard to learn as theirs.
I am sending you an un franc note and, a 50 centimes the un franc note is worth about 18cts. and the 50 centimes is worth about 9 cents. They also have a 2, 5, 10, 20, 59 and 100 franc notes, an un franc is the same as one dollar, and it takes 2 centimes to make one franc.
You said mama would knit me some socks and send them over I guess they would get here all O.K., the Red Cross gave me 2 pairs of wool sox and a woolen sweater, and they are fine believe me.
I guess you will not make more cotton than you can gather if you do just send for the U.S. Soldiers, they can do anything (Ha, Ha).
I guess I ought not to have told you what that money was and let you guess at it awhile. These people have curious ways, they are good people alright, they are clever, and they think we Americans are about IT.
I forgot one kind of money they have here it is a kind of metal, and has a round hole in the center.
Well I will close for this time hoping to hear from you agrin soon.
Your son,
Edgar E. Barnes
NOTES: Edgar Everette Barnes was writing to his father, William A. Barnes. Barnes was born in Ozark, Arkansas on February 24, 1890 and died on February 7, 1955. He is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Poteau, Oklahoma. His military headstone identifies him as a Oklahoma Private serving in 315th TM Btry 90th Division. He enlisted on April 26, 1918 and was discharged on March 17, 1919. He served in a Trench Mortar Battery. He departed New York, NY on June 29, 1918 onboard the Demosthenes. He departed St. Nazaire, France on march 1, 1919 onboard the Iowan. he arrived in Hoboken, NJ on March 12, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in the 315 Trench Mortar Battery Camp Bowie, Texas.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD