TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MOUNTAIN WAVE SEPTEMBER 17, 1918 P. 3
Somewhere in France, Sept. 5, 1918.
Dear Homefolks:
How are you all by this time? Well, I hope. I am fine and dandy—never felt better in my life. I like France much better than I thought I would at first. It is a pretty country; have good roads, but the farms are small but well cared for. Lots of grapes, and fine vineyards. Hay and small grain seem to be the principal crops. No timber to speak of, only where it has been planted. English walnuts, figs, hazelnuts, all grow here.
We live in a nice little village. Go to town every night without any pass, though we cannot talk to the French people at all. They have fine stock. All horses and cattle are fine. The horses sell for an average price of $300. See no small cattle at all—just large milk cows, and they also milk goats, which seems queer to me, as I never saw that before.
We have plenty to eat—more than we had while at Camp Beauregard. I have seen only one Searcy county boy since I came to France, and never got to talk to him at all. But there are twenty-two other Searcy county boys who came over as I did, and I see them every few days. Saw Sheridan Baker yesterday. All of our boys are fine.
You ought to see the French people working their stock. It’s quite different from the way the stock is worked in Searcy county. I haven’t had any mail from any one since I have been here, though I’m expecting some soon. You all write often and I will do the same.
I would like to see you all, but can’t for a while, but hope to soon. Will close by asking you to write soon.
PRV’T ERNEST CASTLEBERRY,
Supply Co. 153d Inf.,
Amer. P. O. No. 741, A. E. F.., France
NOTES: Ernest Elmer Castleberry was born on April 15, 1894 at Snowball, Arkansas and died on September 28, 1962. He is buried in the Osborne Cemetery at Saint Joe, Arkansas. His parents were Isaac and Arabazena Castleberry. At the time he registered for the draft he was a self-employed farmer. He departed for France from Newport News, Virginia onboard the Huron on August 8, 1918. He was a Private in the Supply Company, 153rd Infantry, 39th Division. He returned to the US onboard the Dante Allegheri. He departed Marseille, France on May 29, 1919 and arrived in New York, New York on June 17, 1919. At that time he was classified as a wagoner serving with St. Aignan Casual Co. No. 4924, Special Discharge. His headstone application stated he was a wagoner, Infantry Supply Company, 164th Infantry, 41st Division. (THERE IS A CIVILIAN PHOTO OF HIM ON FINDAGRAVE.COM)
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS
Somewhere in France, Sept. 5, 1918.
Dear Homefolks:
How are you all by this time? Well, I hope. I am fine and dandy—never felt better in my life. I like France much better than I thought I would at first. It is a pretty country; have good roads, but the farms are small but well cared for. Lots of grapes, and fine vineyards. Hay and small grain seem to be the principal crops. No timber to speak of, only where it has been planted. English walnuts, figs, hazelnuts, all grow here.
We live in a nice little village. Go to town every night without any pass, though we cannot talk to the French people at all. They have fine stock. All horses and cattle are fine. The horses sell for an average price of $300. See no small cattle at all—just large milk cows, and they also milk goats, which seems queer to me, as I never saw that before.
We have plenty to eat—more than we had while at Camp Beauregard. I have seen only one Searcy county boy since I came to France, and never got to talk to him at all. But there are twenty-two other Searcy county boys who came over as I did, and I see them every few days. Saw Sheridan Baker yesterday. All of our boys are fine.
You ought to see the French people working their stock. It’s quite different from the way the stock is worked in Searcy county. I haven’t had any mail from any one since I have been here, though I’m expecting some soon. You all write often and I will do the same.
I would like to see you all, but can’t for a while, but hope to soon. Will close by asking you to write soon.
PRV’T ERNEST CASTLEBERRY,
Supply Co. 153d Inf.,
Amer. P. O. No. 741, A. E. F.., France
NOTES: Ernest Elmer Castleberry was born on April 15, 1894 at Snowball, Arkansas and died on September 28, 1962. He is buried in the Osborne Cemetery at Saint Joe, Arkansas. His parents were Isaac and Arabazena Castleberry. At the time he registered for the draft he was a self-employed farmer. He departed for France from Newport News, Virginia onboard the Huron on August 8, 1918. He was a Private in the Supply Company, 153rd Infantry, 39th Division. He returned to the US onboard the Dante Allegheri. He departed Marseille, France on May 29, 1919 and arrived in New York, New York on June 17, 1919. At that time he was classified as a wagoner serving with St. Aignan Casual Co. No. 4924, Special Discharge. His headstone application stated he was a wagoner, Infantry Supply Company, 164th Infantry, 41st Division. (THERE IS A CIVILIAN PHOTO OF HIM ON FINDAGRAVE.COM)
TRANSCRIBED BY LINDA MATTHEWS