TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HOT SPRINGS NEW ERA SEPTEMBER 12, 1918 P. 5
In Active Service with the A.E.F. Aug. 6, 18.
Mrs. M. E. Medlock,
Hot Springs, Ark.
My Dearest Aunt:
Your welcome letter of June 20th received and I was very glad to hear from you again, I hope that you are all well yet.
There is nothing that I could write which would be news to you, so you can readily see that I have a time trying to think of something which will not get stopped by the censor. I could tell you something which, perhaps, would interest you, if I were back there, but we can not write much and it is a good thing too.
Do you keep up with the latest war news? I guess you people try to keep up to the hour with the news now, since our own boys are are playing a big part in the present battle.
I can say nothing about myself, only that I am well and have not been wounded yet but if such should be my fate to be wounded or to die, it is for my country and my people, and Ishall only regret that I have but one life to give for my country. After seeing the things that I have seen over here, I can not have any desire to see peace until we shall have triumphed over wrong, and the banners of the right (the flags of the Allies with “Old Glory”) shall wave supreme, and war is made too horrible for any nation to dream of world conquest as the Kaiser did.
The situation over here looks better every day now, and peace seems in the distance, though it may be nine or ten months away.
I shall not take more time than it takes to tell you the little news which I know, so will write some to Hattie and Ivan.
Au revoir, Auntie.
Hello Hattie-
You card came with mamma’s letter and I was very glad to hear from you, and I’m glad you have not forgotten me in far away France.
You should be here during the hot days there, as it is very pleasant. A beautiful climate in the spring and summer, though I imagine it will be cold in the winter.
I have seen quite a bit of the country where the Germans wrecked in different ways, and there were people, who are in their good homes should be thankful for it and remember that somewhere in France that there is some poor little children who have no good home, and maybe that their papa too, is gone to the war, or has already died for his once fair France, his country and theirs, that they may live as free men and women—that is why we, too, are here that our people might not suffer the same fate, and that our country’s honor should not be disrespected. France is a noble country, and we should never forget what she has done for civilization—God bless her and her sons and daughters, their spirit is indomitable and unbreakable.
Well, Hattie, I will write some to Ivan. Can not write much anyhow but if I ever get home I can tell you I want to then, so Bonne nuit. Bonne chance et bonne sante, jusqu’au bout.
Votre cousine,
W. W. Cotnam
Hell, Ivan.
Your letter received and I was glad to get to say the least.
How are you this time? Hope that you are well, and have good health.
Glad you and the other children have gotten along so well in school, and I want to see you keep going, too.
I do not know anything that would be of interest to you, so I will ask you to excuse me tout de suite, so I can go to sleep.
Do not forget me and some day I will perhaps get home to tell the story, but if I do not, do not think of me as an unfortunate, but as one, who was glad to die for his country for a just cause, that “Freedom might not perish from the earth.”
I remain sincerely your cousin,
W. W. Cotnam,
U.S. Signal Corps. S.O.S.,
A.E.F., France.
care A.P.O. No. 4, B.E.F.
P.S.—A.P.I. No. 4 is the British P.O. for this area, so you will know that I am not a prisoner because I am away from the battalion, that is why some of the folks at home thought that I might be a prisoner.
NOTES: William Washington Cotnam was writing to his family. He was born on February 17, 1896, in Garland County, Arkansas and died on June 24, 1950 in San Luis Obispo, California. He was working as a telephone lineman when he enlisted and served in Co. D 412th Telegraph Battalion. He was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair. He is buried in the I00F Cemetery in San Luis Obispo. His military headstone identifies him as a Calif, EM I USNR serving in World War I & II.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
In Active Service with the A.E.F. Aug. 6, 18.
Mrs. M. E. Medlock,
Hot Springs, Ark.
My Dearest Aunt:
Your welcome letter of June 20th received and I was very glad to hear from you again, I hope that you are all well yet.
There is nothing that I could write which would be news to you, so you can readily see that I have a time trying to think of something which will not get stopped by the censor. I could tell you something which, perhaps, would interest you, if I were back there, but we can not write much and it is a good thing too.
Do you keep up with the latest war news? I guess you people try to keep up to the hour with the news now, since our own boys are are playing a big part in the present battle.
I can say nothing about myself, only that I am well and have not been wounded yet but if such should be my fate to be wounded or to die, it is for my country and my people, and Ishall only regret that I have but one life to give for my country. After seeing the things that I have seen over here, I can not have any desire to see peace until we shall have triumphed over wrong, and the banners of the right (the flags of the Allies with “Old Glory”) shall wave supreme, and war is made too horrible for any nation to dream of world conquest as the Kaiser did.
The situation over here looks better every day now, and peace seems in the distance, though it may be nine or ten months away.
I shall not take more time than it takes to tell you the little news which I know, so will write some to Hattie and Ivan.
Au revoir, Auntie.
Hello Hattie-
You card came with mamma’s letter and I was very glad to hear from you, and I’m glad you have not forgotten me in far away France.
You should be here during the hot days there, as it is very pleasant. A beautiful climate in the spring and summer, though I imagine it will be cold in the winter.
I have seen quite a bit of the country where the Germans wrecked in different ways, and there were people, who are in their good homes should be thankful for it and remember that somewhere in France that there is some poor little children who have no good home, and maybe that their papa too, is gone to the war, or has already died for his once fair France, his country and theirs, that they may live as free men and women—that is why we, too, are here that our people might not suffer the same fate, and that our country’s honor should not be disrespected. France is a noble country, and we should never forget what she has done for civilization—God bless her and her sons and daughters, their spirit is indomitable and unbreakable.
Well, Hattie, I will write some to Ivan. Can not write much anyhow but if I ever get home I can tell you I want to then, so Bonne nuit. Bonne chance et bonne sante, jusqu’au bout.
Votre cousine,
W. W. Cotnam
Hell, Ivan.
Your letter received and I was glad to get to say the least.
How are you this time? Hope that you are well, and have good health.
Glad you and the other children have gotten along so well in school, and I want to see you keep going, too.
I do not know anything that would be of interest to you, so I will ask you to excuse me tout de suite, so I can go to sleep.
Do not forget me and some day I will perhaps get home to tell the story, but if I do not, do not think of me as an unfortunate, but as one, who was glad to die for his country for a just cause, that “Freedom might not perish from the earth.”
I remain sincerely your cousin,
W. W. Cotnam,
U.S. Signal Corps. S.O.S.,
A.E.F., France.
care A.P.O. No. 4, B.E.F.
P.S.—A.P.I. No. 4 is the British P.O. for this area, so you will know that I am not a prisoner because I am away from the battalion, that is why some of the folks at home thought that I might be a prisoner.
NOTES: William Washington Cotnam was writing to his family. He was born on February 17, 1896, in Garland County, Arkansas and died on June 24, 1950 in San Luis Obispo, California. He was working as a telephone lineman when he enlisted and served in Co. D 412th Telegraph Battalion. He was described as being of medium height and build with blue eyes and brown hair. He is buried in the I00F Cemetery in San Luis Obispo. His military headstone identifies him as a Calif, EM I USNR serving in World War I & II.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT