TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT JANUARY 3, 1919 P. 1
France, Aug 30, 1918
Dear Dick and Louise,
After an uneventful trip across the Atlantic and a few days at the first camp we reached, our regiment has moved to a small town further out to France, where we have been billeted out in different parts of the country.
I fared well during the voyage, being lucky enough to secure a berth in a first-class stateroom and never in the least became seasick. I did not have so nice a place on that train that brought me to my present station but I had been told that we would probably move to box-cars for many troops had been moved in this manner. Our train was mostly of second class passenger cars and not at all bad.
I have not been to any place yet that has been overrun by the Huns, but can see the great sacrifices that France has made, and I fully believe that the result of the war remains with the United States, and will be glad to see enough troops over here to back General Pershing up when he said, “I’ll go where I please when I please.”
I haven’t made much headway to learning this language but manage to get by and make them understand by signs and gestures, in face to talk to any one over here is like a Jew at an auction. Our hours in the streets are up at nine o’ clock and these people over here lock their doors and shut their window blinds at dark, so sometimes I have quite a time getting to my sleeping quarters, that is, if I’m out until after dark. I am still in the Personnel Office under Captain Hurt and am sleeping in Headquarters which is located in the center of the town in an old hotel which was built in 1429. An old French woman couldn’t understand why I slept with the windows and doors open so she would come in and close them after I had gone to sleep, and when she found out I opened them she brought me more cover thinking that I would get cold. I haven’t been here long enough to write much of a letter but so far I can’t see anything here that will hold me after the war. Would like to see you all. Tell Mrs. Umsted that I guess I will have to miss her Thanksgiving dinner again this year, but if Carl is there I know that he will account for us both at the table. Give my best regards to Mr. and Mrs. Umsted, Aunt Claudius, Carl and Leone. Would be glad to hear from you all. My address is,
154th Regiment Inf.,
A.P.O. No. 741,
American Ex. Forces
From your brother,
Ray.
NOTES: This letter was written by Ray Brown to his brother R. D. Brown.
TRANSCRIBED BY HARRISON J. MOBBS
France, Aug 30, 1918
Dear Dick and Louise,
After an uneventful trip across the Atlantic and a few days at the first camp we reached, our regiment has moved to a small town further out to France, where we have been billeted out in different parts of the country.
I fared well during the voyage, being lucky enough to secure a berth in a first-class stateroom and never in the least became seasick. I did not have so nice a place on that train that brought me to my present station but I had been told that we would probably move to box-cars for many troops had been moved in this manner. Our train was mostly of second class passenger cars and not at all bad.
I have not been to any place yet that has been overrun by the Huns, but can see the great sacrifices that France has made, and I fully believe that the result of the war remains with the United States, and will be glad to see enough troops over here to back General Pershing up when he said, “I’ll go where I please when I please.”
I haven’t made much headway to learning this language but manage to get by and make them understand by signs and gestures, in face to talk to any one over here is like a Jew at an auction. Our hours in the streets are up at nine o’ clock and these people over here lock their doors and shut their window blinds at dark, so sometimes I have quite a time getting to my sleeping quarters, that is, if I’m out until after dark. I am still in the Personnel Office under Captain Hurt and am sleeping in Headquarters which is located in the center of the town in an old hotel which was built in 1429. An old French woman couldn’t understand why I slept with the windows and doors open so she would come in and close them after I had gone to sleep, and when she found out I opened them she brought me more cover thinking that I would get cold. I haven’t been here long enough to write much of a letter but so far I can’t see anything here that will hold me after the war. Would like to see you all. Tell Mrs. Umsted that I guess I will have to miss her Thanksgiving dinner again this year, but if Carl is there I know that he will account for us both at the table. Give my best regards to Mr. and Mrs. Umsted, Aunt Claudius, Carl and Leone. Would be glad to hear from you all. My address is,
154th Regiment Inf.,
A.P.O. No. 741,
American Ex. Forces
From your brother,
Ray.
NOTES: This letter was written by Ray Brown to his brother R. D. Brown.
TRANSCRIBED BY HARRISON J. MOBBS