TRANSCRIBED FROM THE ASHLEY COUNTY EAGLE JANUARY 2, 1919 P. 3
France, Nov. 25th, 1918.
Editor Ashley County Eagle:
Perhaps you have had several letters from home boys of the A.E.F., and no doubt many of them were by far more interesting than any I might write. Several times I have thought of writing, but the opportunity has never come before as it has on this rainy day.
There have been may changes for us since Sunday, August 11th, 1918. Some of us had almost decided that Camp Beauregard was to be our home for the duration of the war, but not so. Finally the day of our departure came and some of us were very glad. We had been held in suspense for several days, expecting to be away at any time and we were quite glad to be relieved by the fact that we were actually going to get a trip.
Our trip through the states is one we shall never regret or forget. Our transportation was similar to first class and I can assure you we were proud of that fact. When we learned that our journey was to be made in Pullmans we could not help appreciating our Uncle much more.
Never did I imagine the people in the states through which we passed could make so much of a train of soldiers.
We were treated very cordially in every town where we were allowed to detrain.
Especially, in Arkansas, there was nothing to good for us. Many of the boys sent telegrams ahead of our train to notify their people that they were enroute there.
By the time our train would pull in and stop, the track would be lined with people who were giving us cakes, candies, cigarettes, stamps, writing paper and lots of fruit, coffee, tea and various other drinks were served and it was our lot to get our share.
After crossing the states, we reached the grand old historical Hudson river and followed its course to Jersey City. The railroad ran just at the foot of mountains on the bank of the Hudson. On one side of our train we could see the mountains clothed with evergreens and on the other side the winding river.
We got only a near view of the two great cities of New York on one side and Brooklyn on the other.
On the morning of the 21st of August the bugles sounded very early and we were soon making ready for the longest journey I ever hope to make. On our way to our transport I almost decided we were billed for the wrong place. We passed through a tunnel that seemed to go down, down, down to God knows where and so do we now, for we later learned we passed under the river bed. It was so dark in there until you could not even imagine any light. We were all stifled with smoke from the engine since all of the windows of the train were open.
At last we were on board the transport Tolca, an English ship and crew. On the morning of August 26th we sailed out upon the largest body of water I ever desire to see.
Two days out began to tell who were fit for seamen. Many began to feel as if every friend they ever possessed had deserted them, and they soon gave proof of their feelings by resorting to the same method of relief as the whale did in Jonah's times. Many who were not sick were enjoying sport at the expense of the more unlucky. Our motto was to "Laugh while laughing was was good," for we were sure our time to laugh was very limited. Sooner or later nearly every one failed to pay any heed to mess call and even the thought of food was enough to cause some to turn pale.
On the 7th of September every thing was again calm and one ship of our convoy was torpedoed. This was a great experience for us and one would guess an exciting one, but no one seemed to realize any danger except our boat crew.
The torpedoed ship was sailing along with our ship and all I could see was a great explosion in the water. The sub-chasers were immediately about their business through the water, dropping the depth bombs.
The torpedoed ship was injured but not destroyed, and no lives were lost.
After this everything went well with us, and after sailing for fourteen days, we were very glad to land in a French port in Havre, France. In the rest camp we had a stay of two days, saw soldiers of several of the allied nations. Several German prisoners and some of the old Prussian Guards were there, too.
Since coming over here and seeing soldiers of other nations, I have realized more fully that we have the greatest Uncle Sam in the world. None look as good as the American soldiers to me. France, in general, seems to be a very pretty country, very different in many ways to our home land. The people here are very courteous and are the most conservative I ever saw.
It has been a great task for us to make ourselves understood by them. Many of them have learned quite a bit of English; we have learned some French, and now we are able to get by pretty well.
We are all rejoicing our prospects of immediate peace and I feel sure we can be home again soon.
AUBRA T. BUNN,
A.E.F., France.
NOTES: Aubra Tipton Bunn was born on September 2, 1894 in Hamburg, Arkansas and died on February 19, 1951 at Shreveport, Louisiana. He is buried in the Centuries Memorial Park in Shreveport.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
France, Nov. 25th, 1918.
Editor Ashley County Eagle:
Perhaps you have had several letters from home boys of the A.E.F., and no doubt many of them were by far more interesting than any I might write. Several times I have thought of writing, but the opportunity has never come before as it has on this rainy day.
There have been may changes for us since Sunday, August 11th, 1918. Some of us had almost decided that Camp Beauregard was to be our home for the duration of the war, but not so. Finally the day of our departure came and some of us were very glad. We had been held in suspense for several days, expecting to be away at any time and we were quite glad to be relieved by the fact that we were actually going to get a trip.
Our trip through the states is one we shall never regret or forget. Our transportation was similar to first class and I can assure you we were proud of that fact. When we learned that our journey was to be made in Pullmans we could not help appreciating our Uncle much more.
Never did I imagine the people in the states through which we passed could make so much of a train of soldiers.
We were treated very cordially in every town where we were allowed to detrain.
Especially, in Arkansas, there was nothing to good for us. Many of the boys sent telegrams ahead of our train to notify their people that they were enroute there.
By the time our train would pull in and stop, the track would be lined with people who were giving us cakes, candies, cigarettes, stamps, writing paper and lots of fruit, coffee, tea and various other drinks were served and it was our lot to get our share.
After crossing the states, we reached the grand old historical Hudson river and followed its course to Jersey City. The railroad ran just at the foot of mountains on the bank of the Hudson. On one side of our train we could see the mountains clothed with evergreens and on the other side the winding river.
We got only a near view of the two great cities of New York on one side and Brooklyn on the other.
On the morning of the 21st of August the bugles sounded very early and we were soon making ready for the longest journey I ever hope to make. On our way to our transport I almost decided we were billed for the wrong place. We passed through a tunnel that seemed to go down, down, down to God knows where and so do we now, for we later learned we passed under the river bed. It was so dark in there until you could not even imagine any light. We were all stifled with smoke from the engine since all of the windows of the train were open.
At last we were on board the transport Tolca, an English ship and crew. On the morning of August 26th we sailed out upon the largest body of water I ever desire to see.
Two days out began to tell who were fit for seamen. Many began to feel as if every friend they ever possessed had deserted them, and they soon gave proof of their feelings by resorting to the same method of relief as the whale did in Jonah's times. Many who were not sick were enjoying sport at the expense of the more unlucky. Our motto was to "Laugh while laughing was was good," for we were sure our time to laugh was very limited. Sooner or later nearly every one failed to pay any heed to mess call and even the thought of food was enough to cause some to turn pale.
On the 7th of September every thing was again calm and one ship of our convoy was torpedoed. This was a great experience for us and one would guess an exciting one, but no one seemed to realize any danger except our boat crew.
The torpedoed ship was sailing along with our ship and all I could see was a great explosion in the water. The sub-chasers were immediately about their business through the water, dropping the depth bombs.
The torpedoed ship was injured but not destroyed, and no lives were lost.
After this everything went well with us, and after sailing for fourteen days, we were very glad to land in a French port in Havre, France. In the rest camp we had a stay of two days, saw soldiers of several of the allied nations. Several German prisoners and some of the old Prussian Guards were there, too.
Since coming over here and seeing soldiers of other nations, I have realized more fully that we have the greatest Uncle Sam in the world. None look as good as the American soldiers to me. France, in general, seems to be a very pretty country, very different in many ways to our home land. The people here are very courteous and are the most conservative I ever saw.
It has been a great task for us to make ourselves understood by them. Many of them have learned quite a bit of English; we have learned some French, and now we are able to get by pretty well.
We are all rejoicing our prospects of immediate peace and I feel sure we can be home again soon.
AUBRA T. BUNN,
A.E.F., France.
NOTES: Aubra Tipton Bunn was born on September 2, 1894 in Hamburg, Arkansas and died on February 19, 1951 at Shreveport, Louisiana. He is buried in the Centuries Memorial Park in Shreveport.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD