TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD FEBRUARY 3, 1919 P. 6
Is sur Tille, France,
Jan. 12. 1919.
Dear Grandmother:
I received a letter from you about Christmas and this is the first chance I have had to answer it. I am stationed in a small town called Is sur Tille and have been here for quite a while but it is only lately they would let us tell exactly where we are. Every thing is about the same as when I wrote you last and I am still busy guessing when I will be sent back home.
I haven't heard from Hester James for a long time and would like to know if you hear from her and how she is getting along. I wrote her a letter some time ago but have received no answer yet.
I mailed you four knives and a cup today but as the mails are so slow these days I may be home before they are.
I am working at the Signal Corps repair shop here and as the war is over and they are not breaking up things as fast as they use to we haven't much work to do and are taking life pretty easy. Still I want to get home. I am a 1st class private on the right guide. Tell Nathanial Brown I said hello and tell him that I feel like I could eat one of those big hams when I get home.
How is Raymond McDonald getting along these days? I heard Soloman McDaniel got his discharge on account of his health and would like to know how he is getting on.
I like the army only for one thing and that is taps.
Every night at half past nine they blow the bugle and you have to be there or tell the captain why. What we call work on the farm they call detain in the army but it is work just the same. I am awful proud that I came over to France to fight for my country for now that we have gone over the top we can go back home with our chests stuck out like peacocks about it. I had a mighty fine Xmas in France but just the same I don't want to spend another one here. There is only one thing I am afraid of now and that is the trip back on the boat for we had a mighty rough trip coming over. The waves were dashing clear over the top of the boat and I was beginning to think I would never see France much less see home again.
Have you had much snow yet? We have only had a little here but we get enough rain to make up for it. It rains here every day and it is so damp that even the birds have to carry umbrellas.
How are the crops this year? And what is the price of cotton? How much cotton did Timpey Brown make this year? I sure am sorry that I'm not at home to be picking cotton myself.
Well as this is about all I have to say for this time I think I will close.
Hoping to be back with you all before long, I remain
Your grandson,
WILLIAM BROWN,
First Class Private.
Co. D, 334 Lbr. B.N.
A.E.F. via New York
A.P.O. No. 712
NOTE: William Brown was writing to his grandmother Ella McDaniels of Helena, Arkansas. He was an African American soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Is sur Tille, France,
Jan. 12. 1919.
Dear Grandmother:
I received a letter from you about Christmas and this is the first chance I have had to answer it. I am stationed in a small town called Is sur Tille and have been here for quite a while but it is only lately they would let us tell exactly where we are. Every thing is about the same as when I wrote you last and I am still busy guessing when I will be sent back home.
I haven't heard from Hester James for a long time and would like to know if you hear from her and how she is getting along. I wrote her a letter some time ago but have received no answer yet.
I mailed you four knives and a cup today but as the mails are so slow these days I may be home before they are.
I am working at the Signal Corps repair shop here and as the war is over and they are not breaking up things as fast as they use to we haven't much work to do and are taking life pretty easy. Still I want to get home. I am a 1st class private on the right guide. Tell Nathanial Brown I said hello and tell him that I feel like I could eat one of those big hams when I get home.
How is Raymond McDonald getting along these days? I heard Soloman McDaniel got his discharge on account of his health and would like to know how he is getting on.
I like the army only for one thing and that is taps.
Every night at half past nine they blow the bugle and you have to be there or tell the captain why. What we call work on the farm they call detain in the army but it is work just the same. I am awful proud that I came over to France to fight for my country for now that we have gone over the top we can go back home with our chests stuck out like peacocks about it. I had a mighty fine Xmas in France but just the same I don't want to spend another one here. There is only one thing I am afraid of now and that is the trip back on the boat for we had a mighty rough trip coming over. The waves were dashing clear over the top of the boat and I was beginning to think I would never see France much less see home again.
Have you had much snow yet? We have only had a little here but we get enough rain to make up for it. It rains here every day and it is so damp that even the birds have to carry umbrellas.
How are the crops this year? And what is the price of cotton? How much cotton did Timpey Brown make this year? I sure am sorry that I'm not at home to be picking cotton myself.
Well as this is about all I have to say for this time I think I will close.
Hoping to be back with you all before long, I remain
Your grandson,
WILLIAM BROWN,
First Class Private.
Co. D, 334 Lbr. B.N.
A.E.F. via New York
A.P.O. No. 712
NOTE: William Brown was writing to his grandmother Ella McDaniels of Helena, Arkansas. He was an African American soldier.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD