TRANSCRIBED FROM THE JONESBORO EVENING SUN AUGUST 14, 1918 P. 2
Mr. J. C. Copeland
Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Dear Parents:
I received your last letter May 19, few days ago so your letters are following me up all o. k. But if they come over the roads I have been over it will take some time to get to me.
Today is the big day for the French, the same as the Fourth of July is for the Americans so we have been taking part in their celebration. The French people as a class are very good to the American soldiers and the soldiers are the only ones. We have been gathered together this morning on a hill near by and the chaplain out of the signal battalion gave us a speech or a sermon from the end of a large army truck. This is the first opportunity I have had to attend any form of religious service over here, then the major gave us a most interesting talk telling us that he was pleased in the interest in which the men were taking in the signal work, also the rapidity in which we had been advancing.
A French Captain made a short talk, then a French interpreter spoke his speech in English. French is somewhat hard to learn but I am learning it by degrees.
Talk about small animals that bother the human body, but this country has them as we have been sleeping in hay barns and all other places almost, our men have a good stock on hand. I had heard how bad they were before I left the States so I brought some stuff along with me to make them take distance so I haven’t been bothered with them.
We have a fine swimming place near by and have been going in bathing most every day after drill.
The crops here are fine especially wheat and hay, there is no corn here at all and very few cultivated crops.
Have been given what is called trench caps and wrap leggins, the caps haven’t any belt on them so the sunshine has been keeping my nose red and peeling ever since we got them. We are located near an A-American Canteen and can get fruit, candies and canned stuff at a cheap price or the price we had to pay for things in the States.
Glad to know you are getting a-along so well with the crops. Will try and write as regular as possible but at times it may be only a few lines, and occasionally it is some time before we get a mail route established when moving to a new place so cannot send mail out till they are established.
Your son,
Pvt. Elmore A. Copeland
H. Q. Co. 59, Inf.
American E.F.
NOTES: Elmore Copeland of Jonesboro is writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Copeland. In some of his letters he uses his nick-name Elmon. He was born April 21, 1894 and died March 17, 1993. He was a student at the State School of Agriculture when he enlisted.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Mr. J. C. Copeland
Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Dear Parents:
I received your last letter May 19, few days ago so your letters are following me up all o. k. But if they come over the roads I have been over it will take some time to get to me.
Today is the big day for the French, the same as the Fourth of July is for the Americans so we have been taking part in their celebration. The French people as a class are very good to the American soldiers and the soldiers are the only ones. We have been gathered together this morning on a hill near by and the chaplain out of the signal battalion gave us a speech or a sermon from the end of a large army truck. This is the first opportunity I have had to attend any form of religious service over here, then the major gave us a most interesting talk telling us that he was pleased in the interest in which the men were taking in the signal work, also the rapidity in which we had been advancing.
A French Captain made a short talk, then a French interpreter spoke his speech in English. French is somewhat hard to learn but I am learning it by degrees.
Talk about small animals that bother the human body, but this country has them as we have been sleeping in hay barns and all other places almost, our men have a good stock on hand. I had heard how bad they were before I left the States so I brought some stuff along with me to make them take distance so I haven’t been bothered with them.
We have a fine swimming place near by and have been going in bathing most every day after drill.
The crops here are fine especially wheat and hay, there is no corn here at all and very few cultivated crops.
Have been given what is called trench caps and wrap leggins, the caps haven’t any belt on them so the sunshine has been keeping my nose red and peeling ever since we got them. We are located near an A-American Canteen and can get fruit, candies and canned stuff at a cheap price or the price we had to pay for things in the States.
Glad to know you are getting a-along so well with the crops. Will try and write as regular as possible but at times it may be only a few lines, and occasionally it is some time before we get a mail route established when moving to a new place so cannot send mail out till they are established.
Your son,
Pvt. Elmore A. Copeland
H. Q. Co. 59, Inf.
American E.F.
NOTES: Elmore Copeland of Jonesboro is writing to his parents Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Copeland. In some of his letters he uses his nick-name Elmon. He was born April 21, 1894 and died March 17, 1993. He was a student at the State School of Agriculture when he enlisted.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT