TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SPRINGDALE NEWS MARCH 14, 1919 P. 4
On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force,
February 2, 1919,
The sun is shining pretty and bright to-day. It tried to snow all last week, but would melt as fast as it hit the ground.
Well, this is the second of February, and we are looking for General Pershing to visit us to-day or to-morrow.
Say mother, I have been enjoying some of the best lectures and sermons I ever heard the last week, by Dr. Foster of New York, and believe me, he sure knows how to talk. He leaves us to-night, and I think he is going to the 6th Division.
Tell Johnnie I have me a little French comrade who stays with me now. He can speak a little English and I can speak a little French, so we have quite a time talking to one another. I found him down at the Y.M.C.A. one night and took him up to the barracks with me and fixed him some underwear up and put it on him, and we are having him a uniform made. The boys all think he is just about "it" so he don't want for very much now. His mother has one arm cut off and he says his father is a prisoner in Germany, but I believe he is dead, as all of the allied prisoners have been released long ago. He wants to come to America with me, but I don't know whether to try to take him or not, but I sure hate the idea of him having to go back home when he has nothing to go back to. If I were able I sure would bring him home with me. I don't believe he ever knew what it was to be loved until he came to us, but the boys are spoiling him, and I guess I am just as bad as the others.
I suppose you are still expecting me to come home any time, and I am still looking for a chance to go home, but it may be some time yet before (SEVERAL JUMBLED LETTERS) I get to start. You are always talking about me having the "pond" to cross, but I hope I will never have anything worse or more dangerous to do than that, so don't let that bother you, for I didn't even get sea sick coming over. I was sick when I started across, but was feeling pretty good when I got here. But believe me I will feel still better when I reach the other side once more even if I am throwing up my socks. Hoping to hear from you soon, and asking you to pray for me that we may meet again soon, I am your loving son,
Corp. Leonard Cawthon,
Sup. Co., 142nd F. A. A. E. F.
NOTES: Leonard Dabney Cawthon was writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. John Cawthon of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Cawthon was born on January 13, 1891 and died on July 10, 1976. He is buried in the Weddington Cemetery in Weddington, Arkansas. He enlisted on June 2, 1917 and was discharged on June 26, 1919. He departed for France from Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He returned to the US from France on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was listed as a Corp. serving in Supply Company, 142nd FA.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Force,
February 2, 1919,
The sun is shining pretty and bright to-day. It tried to snow all last week, but would melt as fast as it hit the ground.
Well, this is the second of February, and we are looking for General Pershing to visit us to-day or to-morrow.
Say mother, I have been enjoying some of the best lectures and sermons I ever heard the last week, by Dr. Foster of New York, and believe me, he sure knows how to talk. He leaves us to-night, and I think he is going to the 6th Division.
Tell Johnnie I have me a little French comrade who stays with me now. He can speak a little English and I can speak a little French, so we have quite a time talking to one another. I found him down at the Y.M.C.A. one night and took him up to the barracks with me and fixed him some underwear up and put it on him, and we are having him a uniform made. The boys all think he is just about "it" so he don't want for very much now. His mother has one arm cut off and he says his father is a prisoner in Germany, but I believe he is dead, as all of the allied prisoners have been released long ago. He wants to come to America with me, but I don't know whether to try to take him or not, but I sure hate the idea of him having to go back home when he has nothing to go back to. If I were able I sure would bring him home with me. I don't believe he ever knew what it was to be loved until he came to us, but the boys are spoiling him, and I guess I am just as bad as the others.
I suppose you are still expecting me to come home any time, and I am still looking for a chance to go home, but it may be some time yet before (SEVERAL JUMBLED LETTERS) I get to start. You are always talking about me having the "pond" to cross, but I hope I will never have anything worse or more dangerous to do than that, so don't let that bother you, for I didn't even get sea sick coming over. I was sick when I started across, but was feeling pretty good when I got here. But believe me I will feel still better when I reach the other side once more even if I am throwing up my socks. Hoping to hear from you soon, and asking you to pray for me that we may meet again soon, I am your loving son,
Corp. Leonard Cawthon,
Sup. Co., 142nd F. A. A. E. F.
NOTES: Leonard Dabney Cawthon was writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. John Cawthon of Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Cawthon was born on January 13, 1891 and died on July 10, 1976. He is buried in the Weddington Cemetery in Weddington, Arkansas. He enlisted on June 2, 1917 and was discharged on June 26, 1919. He departed for France from Hoboken, NJ on August 31, 1918 onboard the Leviathan. He returned to the US from France on June 3, 1919 onboard the Amphion. He was listed as a Corp. serving in Supply Company, 142nd FA.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD