TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS JANUARY 10, 1919 P. 3
To Vivian Cardwell
From France
Camp Villebeanlon _____France
Father’s Day November 24, 1918
Dear Father:
Well today is Father’s Day and I am going to take pen in hand to let you know that I am well and getting along find and hope this finds you folks all well and enjoying life. I have been anxious about you all since this flu has been raging, hope all have escaped it. Well, all's over over here being a new day has dawned for humanity and I am truly glad that I had the opportunity of doing my little bit for the finest and grandest country that ever graced God's great domain, namely the old U. S. A.
All the boys are writing letters today to their Dad or some loved one at home, and the most of us are looking forward to the time when the order comes to fall in an begin the journey home over the broad Atlantic. It will be a glorious day, for we know that we have done our work well whether we have been fighting in No Man's Land or employed in the Service of Supplies. While many fine young fellows have made the supreme sacrifice and are now resting in dear old France, a silent tribute for the cause of Democracy, they shall not be forgotten for all allied nations will honor forever their deeds of valor. I suppose you would like to know what I am doing. I am dispatching train and engine crews on one of our lines for our company and getting along fine. Our regiment has been taken out of the engineers as you will notice by my address, and placed in the transportation corps. I sent you and C. B. Umbaugh a copy of our A.E.F, paper, hope it reachts you all O.K. We have been having fine weather over here, but today it has been raining and looks as if winter had set in. We have a very fine camp which we built ourselves. We have a fine Y.M.C.A. building and a moving picture machine installed, also electric lights. Our camp is located about 5 kilometers or 3 miles from the town of ______and we have a motor truck running every hour, so we go into the city quite often. I expect to go on my leave soon, I want to go to Monte Carlo if possible also get over into Italy for a visit. I want to see as much as possible while I am here.
Well, I am going to stop for this time, wishing you and all a nice Thanksgiving, a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I remain as ever your soldier boy in France,
Sgt. J. E.Cardwell,
Co. D 31st Regt. Transp. Corps.
A.P.O. 718, France.
NOTES: Cardwell departed for France on June 7, 1918 onboard the Manchuria. He was serving as a Sgt. in Co. D, 31st Engineers. He returned to the US, departing St. Nazaire on June 12, 1919 onboard the Saint Barbara. He arrived in the US on July 23, 1919. He was serving in 3rd Co., 14th Grand Division Transportation Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
To Vivian Cardwell
From France
Camp Villebeanlon _____France
Father’s Day November 24, 1918
Dear Father:
Well today is Father’s Day and I am going to take pen in hand to let you know that I am well and getting along find and hope this finds you folks all well and enjoying life. I have been anxious about you all since this flu has been raging, hope all have escaped it. Well, all's over over here being a new day has dawned for humanity and I am truly glad that I had the opportunity of doing my little bit for the finest and grandest country that ever graced God's great domain, namely the old U. S. A.
All the boys are writing letters today to their Dad or some loved one at home, and the most of us are looking forward to the time when the order comes to fall in an begin the journey home over the broad Atlantic. It will be a glorious day, for we know that we have done our work well whether we have been fighting in No Man's Land or employed in the Service of Supplies. While many fine young fellows have made the supreme sacrifice and are now resting in dear old France, a silent tribute for the cause of Democracy, they shall not be forgotten for all allied nations will honor forever their deeds of valor. I suppose you would like to know what I am doing. I am dispatching train and engine crews on one of our lines for our company and getting along fine. Our regiment has been taken out of the engineers as you will notice by my address, and placed in the transportation corps. I sent you and C. B. Umbaugh a copy of our A.E.F, paper, hope it reachts you all O.K. We have been having fine weather over here, but today it has been raining and looks as if winter had set in. We have a very fine camp which we built ourselves. We have a fine Y.M.C.A. building and a moving picture machine installed, also electric lights. Our camp is located about 5 kilometers or 3 miles from the town of ______and we have a motor truck running every hour, so we go into the city quite often. I expect to go on my leave soon, I want to go to Monte Carlo if possible also get over into Italy for a visit. I want to see as much as possible while I am here.
Well, I am going to stop for this time, wishing you and all a nice Thanksgiving, a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I remain as ever your soldier boy in France,
Sgt. J. E.Cardwell,
Co. D 31st Regt. Transp. Corps.
A.P.O. 718, France.
NOTES: Cardwell departed for France on June 7, 1918 onboard the Manchuria. He was serving as a Sgt. in Co. D, 31st Engineers. He returned to the US, departing St. Nazaire on June 12, 1919 onboard the Saint Barbara. He arrived in the US on July 23, 1919. He was serving in 3rd Co., 14th Grand Division Transportation Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD