TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MELBOURNE TIMES FEBRUARY 14, 1919 P. 2
Somewhere in France, December 26, 1918.
Mrs. Josie Billingsley,
Dear Mama:
Will take pleasure in writing you a long letter this morning, as I know you will be anxious to hear from your soldier son, who spent his first Christmas away from home in the year 1918.
Well, mama, how are you all? Hope this will find you all in the best of health and happy. This leaves me all o. k., feeling fine. We are having a real nice time for Christmas over here. Our officers picked 250 men from our battallion, which contains 1000 men to parade before President Wilson, his wife and General Pershing and staff on Christmas day, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the 250 best trained soldiers which were selected to take part in the parade. So on the morning of December 25th at 2:30, we were awakened and had breakfast at 3 o'clock and at 4 we were loaded on the trucks and on our way to Humes, which is about 20 miles from here, where we were to pass the review at 10:30 a. m. We had good luck and arrived in due time at parade grounds. About 30 minutes after we arrived President Wilson and wife and General Pershing and staff drove up in their cars and 21 cannon shots were fired as a salute to the President. Soon afterward they were seated on the reviewing stand, and so we were addressed by the President and General Pershing. Both speeches were good and highly appreciated by we soldier boys. So we passed our review before our noble commander and then came back to the little town of Columfey, which is our home at present. Our cooks had a wonderful Christmas dinner prepared for us when we arrived; so we were seated in our mess hall and enjoyed the meal, which consisted of most everything good to eat, such as the following: Beans, mashed potatoes, salad, pordeau, dressing, gravy, apples, cake, oranges, chocolate, candy, coco, coffee, bread and many other things. Also we were served by the Y.M.C.A. and Knights of Columbus, which consisted of tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, candy and towels, etc.
Today is our day to rest and I am spending my spare moments in writing to my dear mother. Well, mother, we had about a 6-inch snow last night, so we are having a natural Christmas--everything pretty and white. How is the weather back at home and what are you all doing? I received Madge's and Ruth's letters a few days ago. Was more than proud to get them as they are the only letters I have received since October. So you see I don't get mail very often. I have been expecting another letter from you all for the past two weeks but haven't yet heard from you.
As to when we will get to come home, I can't say, but from the best I can tell I think I will get home in time to make a crop.
Mama, when you are all writing to me I wish you would register my letters as they come quicker and are not so liable to get lost. So tell Ruth and Bob hello. This letter is to them also. I mean to the whole family. As I am so far away from home I am not going to send you all any Christmas presents, but will bring you all a French souveneir when I come home.
When has Mr. Frazier heard from John and what is John's address? Give me the address of John, Huba and Lee J. in your next letter. Who has the switchboard for another year. Call Mrs. Batterson and tell her hello for me; also tell Wilma many thanks for the souveneir she sent me.
Where is Herb, Arnold and Troy now. Have they got their discharge yet, and have you still got old Albert and Bird and are they in good shape? Have you all been to Calico Rock yet? I had a letter from Aunt Lee and Uncle Bob a few days ago and they were expecting you up there. So I have asked about the questions I can think of just now. So write me soon and all the news. Give my love and best wishes to all. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, I am
Your loving soldier son,
Pvt. Jewel Billingsley.
Co. D., 80th Inf., 77 Div., A.E.F.
NOTES: Jewel Bertram Billingsley was born in Franklin, Arkansas on April 11, 1896 and died on June 22, 1962. He is buried in the Springfield National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri. His military headstone identifies him as a Missouri Private serving in Co. D, 306th Infantry, 77th Division in World War 1. He departed Montreal, Canada on August 13, 1918 onboard the Bhamo. He was listed as a Private serving in the Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft Co., #5 Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Somewhere in France, December 26, 1918.
Mrs. Josie Billingsley,
Dear Mama:
Will take pleasure in writing you a long letter this morning, as I know you will be anxious to hear from your soldier son, who spent his first Christmas away from home in the year 1918.
Well, mama, how are you all? Hope this will find you all in the best of health and happy. This leaves me all o. k., feeling fine. We are having a real nice time for Christmas over here. Our officers picked 250 men from our battallion, which contains 1000 men to parade before President Wilson, his wife and General Pershing and staff on Christmas day, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the 250 best trained soldiers which were selected to take part in the parade. So on the morning of December 25th at 2:30, we were awakened and had breakfast at 3 o'clock and at 4 we were loaded on the trucks and on our way to Humes, which is about 20 miles from here, where we were to pass the review at 10:30 a. m. We had good luck and arrived in due time at parade grounds. About 30 minutes after we arrived President Wilson and wife and General Pershing and staff drove up in their cars and 21 cannon shots were fired as a salute to the President. Soon afterward they were seated on the reviewing stand, and so we were addressed by the President and General Pershing. Both speeches were good and highly appreciated by we soldier boys. So we passed our review before our noble commander and then came back to the little town of Columfey, which is our home at present. Our cooks had a wonderful Christmas dinner prepared for us when we arrived; so we were seated in our mess hall and enjoyed the meal, which consisted of most everything good to eat, such as the following: Beans, mashed potatoes, salad, pordeau, dressing, gravy, apples, cake, oranges, chocolate, candy, coco, coffee, bread and many other things. Also we were served by the Y.M.C.A. and Knights of Columbus, which consisted of tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, candy and towels, etc.
Today is our day to rest and I am spending my spare moments in writing to my dear mother. Well, mother, we had about a 6-inch snow last night, so we are having a natural Christmas--everything pretty and white. How is the weather back at home and what are you all doing? I received Madge's and Ruth's letters a few days ago. Was more than proud to get them as they are the only letters I have received since October. So you see I don't get mail very often. I have been expecting another letter from you all for the past two weeks but haven't yet heard from you.
As to when we will get to come home, I can't say, but from the best I can tell I think I will get home in time to make a crop.
Mama, when you are all writing to me I wish you would register my letters as they come quicker and are not so liable to get lost. So tell Ruth and Bob hello. This letter is to them also. I mean to the whole family. As I am so far away from home I am not going to send you all any Christmas presents, but will bring you all a French souveneir when I come home.
When has Mr. Frazier heard from John and what is John's address? Give me the address of John, Huba and Lee J. in your next letter. Who has the switchboard for another year. Call Mrs. Batterson and tell her hello for me; also tell Wilma many thanks for the souveneir she sent me.
Where is Herb, Arnold and Troy now. Have they got their discharge yet, and have you still got old Albert and Bird and are they in good shape? Have you all been to Calico Rock yet? I had a letter from Aunt Lee and Uncle Bob a few days ago and they were expecting you up there. So I have asked about the questions I can think of just now. So write me soon and all the news. Give my love and best wishes to all. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, I am
Your loving soldier son,
Pvt. Jewel Billingsley.
Co. D., 80th Inf., 77 Div., A.E.F.
NOTES: Jewel Bertram Billingsley was born in Franklin, Arkansas on April 11, 1896 and died on June 22, 1962. He is buried in the Springfield National Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri. His military headstone identifies him as a Missouri Private serving in Co. D, 306th Infantry, 77th Division in World War 1. He departed Montreal, Canada on August 13, 1918 onboard the Bhamo. He was listed as a Private serving in the Camp Pike July Automatic Replacement Draft Co., #5 Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD