TRANSCRIBED FROM THE GREEN FOREST TRIBUNE JANUARY 11, 1918 P. 2
I am getting along fine and have been working harder than ever. Believe me we are working some now. Day before yesterday (Christmas day) I came nearer running all day than I ever did in all my life. Cold weather doesn’t count anything—we work just the same. We have been given some more clothes. I received two pair of shoes, one overcoat, one rain-coat, two pair of pants, one blouse, (coat), five pair of socks, one pair of leggings, one suit of underwear and a hat, so I am very well equipped for clothes now.
A nice Christmas dinner was served us. We had chicken and turkey, cranberries, etc. Wish you could have seen them serve the chicken. The cook would take a chicken and chop it in two with a large knife and hand a fellow half of it if he wanted that much.
I haven’t got to go to town yet, but hope to go soon. I wanted to get some things for Christmas but missed my aim.
I am going to start to school tomorrow night. I am going to begin the study of the French language. I don’t know how I will make it but I am a going to try to be able to talk to my new friends when I get to France. The school is one of Uncle Sam’s plans to help us when we get ‘over there.’
I hardly knew what Red Cross or Y.M.C.A. were till I came here. I am going to tell you now that it would be mighty dull here if it wasn’t for them.
Isa, if you cannot understand all of this I shall not be surprised. Pianos, Victrolas and a big athletic game are playing an important part just now, and I can hardly write for the attractive (MISSING) young lady from Memphis, (MISSING) for us here last night. (MISSING) a jolly talk and it was (MISSING) enjoyed.
(MISSING) I have not spoken to a girl since I came here. Guess I would not know how to act if I should meet some of my lady friends.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by McKinley Coleman from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana to his sister Isa.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
I am getting along fine and have been working harder than ever. Believe me we are working some now. Day before yesterday (Christmas day) I came nearer running all day than I ever did in all my life. Cold weather doesn’t count anything—we work just the same. We have been given some more clothes. I received two pair of shoes, one overcoat, one rain-coat, two pair of pants, one blouse, (coat), five pair of socks, one pair of leggings, one suit of underwear and a hat, so I am very well equipped for clothes now.
A nice Christmas dinner was served us. We had chicken and turkey, cranberries, etc. Wish you could have seen them serve the chicken. The cook would take a chicken and chop it in two with a large knife and hand a fellow half of it if he wanted that much.
I haven’t got to go to town yet, but hope to go soon. I wanted to get some things for Christmas but missed my aim.
I am going to start to school tomorrow night. I am going to begin the study of the French language. I don’t know how I will make it but I am a going to try to be able to talk to my new friends when I get to France. The school is one of Uncle Sam’s plans to help us when we get ‘over there.’
I hardly knew what Red Cross or Y.M.C.A. were till I came here. I am going to tell you now that it would be mighty dull here if it wasn’t for them.
Isa, if you cannot understand all of this I shall not be surprised. Pianos, Victrolas and a big athletic game are playing an important part just now, and I can hardly write for the attractive (MISSING) young lady from Memphis, (MISSING) for us here last night. (MISSING) a jolly talk and it was (MISSING) enjoyed.
(MISSING) I have not spoken to a girl since I came here. Guess I would not know how to act if I should meet some of my lady friends.
NOTES: This partial letter was written by McKinley Coleman from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana to his sister Isa.
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON