TRANSCRIBED FROM THE BENTON COURIER MAY 22, 1919 P. 2
To My Dearest Ones:
Again I will seat myself to drop a few more lines to our dear county paper to try to tell you all something more about Sunny France. The trees are getting green, the fruit trees are full of blossoms which make me think of my dear old home far away.
Ie met up with some of my boys that were with me at Camp Pike, among them was a well known friend, Willard L. Dobbs. It was the first time that I had seen them since I was in Florida. Was sure glad to see them. They drifted in. I am sure sorry for them for I have been here for seven months, but I hope we will not be at this place for another twelve. I am sure that the boys who did not come over did not lose anything but if I make it back safe and sound as I am now I will be satisfied. I don't think that I am anything extra, but I would not take a million dollars for my trip if I come out like I was when I went in the army. I am sound so far and thick. I can stay that way for my church and say Father in Heaven is working with me. I have not spent a cent for any of their wine yet it has been so long since I spoke to a girl that I don't know whether I can talk or not.
Remember that the letters we get are all that keeps us from losing all hope, so keep us in hopes and a light heart, so don't forget us for we are as sound as the ones that came home. We are clean in flesh and heart. Our hearts are true. We so loved our dear ones that we came and were willing to give our lives for them and are true to them and our God. Well, I will take the blues if I don't turn my subject.
Well, the trains over here are like the first ones in America. They buck worse than the ships on the hungry sea.
Well, I am waiting for a letter from the two friends that have been so kind. I have not heard from them in a long time.
Some over here think that the U.S.A. they have the crow and moles, but that is about the only things there are. Over here there are several kinds of trees, maple, cotton wood, post oak and several others, but they do not look natural.
I am thinking of the ones I left behind that to me have been so kind.
Well, as I see there are lots of the boys going home, I pray that my time may be near, for I have been in France seven months and I think that is long enough; if I could get the letters I ought to it would not be so bad.
To the dear ones at home and to the dearest ones in my church, do not for a moment think that I have gotten mad or that I have forgotten you all hearing from me lately. What is the reason I don't hear from you? Remember that I am still in France.
Well, I have written several times to two certain persons and I haven't heard from either one of them in two months. Why have I not heard from them? I am going to write to them as long as I can keep patience.
Well I guess I had better change my subject.
Well, how was the Easter in the dear old U. S. A.? It was dull over here.
Here is something that seems funny. There are three different things that I can see, and you can see it at the same time even if we are seven thousand miles apart. Can you guess what they are?
Well, just think. It is morning over here when it is only midnight in the U.S.A.
Well, well. I want to take a long journey over the land and water. I think that I will take it over the last of July. I hope so.
Well, why didn't you boys write some time.
Well, I am thinking about forty eleven different things at once and can't keep my mind on my writing, so I can't think of anything that will interest you all for it seems as there are two of my friends that I've been writing that are not interested in my news anyway so I will close for this time.
Alonzo J. Beaty,
345 Butchery Co., A, A.E. F., A.P O. 713 France
NOTES: Beaty was from Alum, Arkansas. He departed for France on September 9, 1918. He returned to the US departing St. Nazaire on June 29, 1919 onboard the Paysandu. He was serving as a Private in the 345th Butchery Company, QMC.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
To My Dearest Ones:
Again I will seat myself to drop a few more lines to our dear county paper to try to tell you all something more about Sunny France. The trees are getting green, the fruit trees are full of blossoms which make me think of my dear old home far away.
Ie met up with some of my boys that were with me at Camp Pike, among them was a well known friend, Willard L. Dobbs. It was the first time that I had seen them since I was in Florida. Was sure glad to see them. They drifted in. I am sure sorry for them for I have been here for seven months, but I hope we will not be at this place for another twelve. I am sure that the boys who did not come over did not lose anything but if I make it back safe and sound as I am now I will be satisfied. I don't think that I am anything extra, but I would not take a million dollars for my trip if I come out like I was when I went in the army. I am sound so far and thick. I can stay that way for my church and say Father in Heaven is working with me. I have not spent a cent for any of their wine yet it has been so long since I spoke to a girl that I don't know whether I can talk or not.
Remember that the letters we get are all that keeps us from losing all hope, so keep us in hopes and a light heart, so don't forget us for we are as sound as the ones that came home. We are clean in flesh and heart. Our hearts are true. We so loved our dear ones that we came and were willing to give our lives for them and are true to them and our God. Well, I will take the blues if I don't turn my subject.
Well, the trains over here are like the first ones in America. They buck worse than the ships on the hungry sea.
Well, I am waiting for a letter from the two friends that have been so kind. I have not heard from them in a long time.
Some over here think that the U.S.A. they have the crow and moles, but that is about the only things there are. Over here there are several kinds of trees, maple, cotton wood, post oak and several others, but they do not look natural.
I am thinking of the ones I left behind that to me have been so kind.
Well, as I see there are lots of the boys going home, I pray that my time may be near, for I have been in France seven months and I think that is long enough; if I could get the letters I ought to it would not be so bad.
To the dear ones at home and to the dearest ones in my church, do not for a moment think that I have gotten mad or that I have forgotten you all hearing from me lately. What is the reason I don't hear from you? Remember that I am still in France.
Well, I have written several times to two certain persons and I haven't heard from either one of them in two months. Why have I not heard from them? I am going to write to them as long as I can keep patience.
Well I guess I had better change my subject.
Well, how was the Easter in the dear old U. S. A.? It was dull over here.
Here is something that seems funny. There are three different things that I can see, and you can see it at the same time even if we are seven thousand miles apart. Can you guess what they are?
Well, just think. It is morning over here when it is only midnight in the U.S.A.
Well, well. I want to take a long journey over the land and water. I think that I will take it over the last of July. I hope so.
Well, why didn't you boys write some time.
Well, I am thinking about forty eleven different things at once and can't keep my mind on my writing, so I can't think of anything that will interest you all for it seems as there are two of my friends that I've been writing that are not interested in my news anyway so I will close for this time.
Alonzo J. Beaty,
345 Butchery Co., A, A.E. F., A.P O. 713 France
NOTES: Beaty was from Alum, Arkansas. He departed for France on September 9, 1918. He returned to the US departing St. Nazaire on June 29, 1919 onboard the Paysandu. He was serving as a Private in the 345th Butchery Company, QMC.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD