TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA JANUARY 22, 1918 P. 8
France Dec. 30. 1917
My Dear Mrs. Polk:
Your kind thoughtful letter together with the cheerful package got to me yesterday and they were both agreeable surprises indeed. You will never realize how much comfort, cheer and good fellowship was wrapped up in them. To a young fellow new to military life, in new surroundings and in a strange land messages and letters from home mean a great deal and without them one’s spirits are apt to get droopy.
Tobacco is very scarce over here and awfully hard to get, and as to candy and chewing gum—well there aren’t any such articles up in the front lines so you hit the nail on the head and the climax of your thoughtfulness was the little old red Santa who stands here on the table to cock as a little sparrow.
Am now regularly assigned to our troops and was fortunate to be with the first contingent that landed in France. All the pictures of the American troops printed in the sketch. London Illustrated New Bystander and the New York Times are taken right in our regiment. And we stand high with the other American units serving in French on account of our being in the trenches. So I often pinch myself to see if I am awake or merely dreaming--it is so unreal.
How I envy you being in Hot Springs. Somehow the sun does not shine so brightly anywhere as in the valleys of Hot Springs, and I love every inch of it. My Bunkie tease me of wanting to go to Hot Springs when I die.
Again thanks for your kind thoughtfulness—it means so much to me and I hope some day to see you and tell you exactly how I feel.
With best wishes for yourself and Mr. Polk, I am,
Very truly yours,
C. W. Burrow.
NOTES: Coe Wyatt Burrow was born on December 31, 1894 at Poyen, Grant County, Arkansas and died on July 14, 1951 at Poyen. He is buried in the Lindsey Cemetery at Poyen. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas soldier serving in Field BN, 29 Div.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
France Dec. 30. 1917
My Dear Mrs. Polk:
Your kind thoughtful letter together with the cheerful package got to me yesterday and they were both agreeable surprises indeed. You will never realize how much comfort, cheer and good fellowship was wrapped up in them. To a young fellow new to military life, in new surroundings and in a strange land messages and letters from home mean a great deal and without them one’s spirits are apt to get droopy.
Tobacco is very scarce over here and awfully hard to get, and as to candy and chewing gum—well there aren’t any such articles up in the front lines so you hit the nail on the head and the climax of your thoughtfulness was the little old red Santa who stands here on the table to cock as a little sparrow.
Am now regularly assigned to our troops and was fortunate to be with the first contingent that landed in France. All the pictures of the American troops printed in the sketch. London Illustrated New Bystander and the New York Times are taken right in our regiment. And we stand high with the other American units serving in French on account of our being in the trenches. So I often pinch myself to see if I am awake or merely dreaming--it is so unreal.
How I envy you being in Hot Springs. Somehow the sun does not shine so brightly anywhere as in the valleys of Hot Springs, and I love every inch of it. My Bunkie tease me of wanting to go to Hot Springs when I die.
Again thanks for your kind thoughtfulness—it means so much to me and I hope some day to see you and tell you exactly how I feel.
With best wishes for yourself and Mr. Polk, I am,
Very truly yours,
C. W. Burrow.
NOTES: Coe Wyatt Burrow was born on December 31, 1894 at Poyen, Grant County, Arkansas and died on July 14, 1951 at Poyen. He is buried in the Lindsey Cemetery at Poyen. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas soldier serving in Field BN, 29 Div.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT