TRANSCRIBED FROM TH WHITE RIVER JOURNAL JANUARY 2, 1919 P. 1
Nov. 26, 1918.
Dear Zula:
I will answer your letter that I received today, with the greatest of pleasure.
Oh, you don't know how proud I was to get a letter, and today was the first time I have heard from my folks. Well Zula, I guess I can tell you where I am. I am in Belgium, a little town called Verton, where the "Crown Prince" headquarters were while the war was on. We made a move of 80 miles today out of France into Belgium. We were at Sully at an evacuated hospital.
Zula I wish you could see this torn up country of course this place is not shot up much but we come through places in France when we started out this morning one town I remember, Verdun, France; it sure was a sight. It is about twice the size of Stuttgart; there isn't a building that isn't torn down and ruined by the big shells.
I have never been on the firing line but I got in hearing distance of it. I was on the train on my way to the front, when the last shot was fired. I can say that I heard the last shot of this great world's war fired, and believe me it was some noise. I was only 30 miles from it all, and that was the danger zone, in range of the big guns.
I went across the battle field today where they have been fighting for the last four years. It sure is a torn up place.
I will tell you of our trip across the "pond." We had a little surprise fight before we got across, we were almost across when it "tackled" us, in sight of the Silly Islands, it was quite amusing to see the fight; there was only one transport hit, and it was the one right beside the good old boat that I was in. It didn't sink, made it's way to land.
Well I'll have to go for tonight will write more in the morning, good night.
Well it is 8:30 in the morning, about 2:30 at home, ha!
This is a real house we are in like home only, its in town and is three stories high. I am in the third story, it has been a hotel in a time. I went to a German hospital this afternoon, it was a college before the war. You know those dutch took it away from the Belgians and would not let them have any schools for four years.
The Germans have only been out of this place two week. They went out one side and the Americans came in on the other. There are lots of those "Confounded Dutchmen" here, but they are in the hospital sick and wounded. I have see some Dutch nurses.
I guess the next time you hear from me I will be in Germany, we are not going to be here long. There are two things I wish I had done in the army, and one is kept a diary and dates the other brought my kodak. I could have brought it had I known the officers allowed it. I could have had lots of pictures of this country and battle fields.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I wish I was there. I think I would step over and eat dinner with you.
Well Zula I don't think I 'll get back soon. I believe I will be hear all winter. Why should I worry, I am faring fine altho' I would like to get home soon, but when I do get home I can say I have been somewhere and have seen something.
I am glad you have a school and don't take the "Flu" because that is "bad stuff." Ho, this is an answer to the letter written Oct. 20. That's just two I have received from you. Oh! Zula, just think the army that is going to Germany is the "pick" of the world and I am in that army.
Well I must quit or you will have to get a Philadelphia lawyer to read this.
I can't give my address where I am now for I will be in Germany before long, but you address my letters this way--
1st Class Pot,
Claude A. Culberson,
155 Field Hospital, 114 Sanitary Train, A. E. F. France, and I will get them. But I am in Belgium and will reach Germany soon.
Best Wishes, Your Friend,
Olaud.
NOTES: Claude Arthur Culbertson (his name was misspelled in the newspaper) was born in Cardwell, Missouri on September 11, 1895 and died on July 15, 1969. He is buried in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Pvt. in the US Army during World War 1. He was living in Prairie County, Arkansas when he registered for the draft. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 22, 1918 onboard the Toloa. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in Field Hospital Co. 155, 114 Sanitary Train. He departed Brest, France on June 21, 1919 onboard the Finland. He arrived in Boston, Mass. On June 30, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in Field Hospital Co. 155 VII Corp Sanitary Train.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Nov. 26, 1918.
Dear Zula:
I will answer your letter that I received today, with the greatest of pleasure.
Oh, you don't know how proud I was to get a letter, and today was the first time I have heard from my folks. Well Zula, I guess I can tell you where I am. I am in Belgium, a little town called Verton, where the "Crown Prince" headquarters were while the war was on. We made a move of 80 miles today out of France into Belgium. We were at Sully at an evacuated hospital.
Zula I wish you could see this torn up country of course this place is not shot up much but we come through places in France when we started out this morning one town I remember, Verdun, France; it sure was a sight. It is about twice the size of Stuttgart; there isn't a building that isn't torn down and ruined by the big shells.
I have never been on the firing line but I got in hearing distance of it. I was on the train on my way to the front, when the last shot was fired. I can say that I heard the last shot of this great world's war fired, and believe me it was some noise. I was only 30 miles from it all, and that was the danger zone, in range of the big guns.
I went across the battle field today where they have been fighting for the last four years. It sure is a torn up place.
I will tell you of our trip across the "pond." We had a little surprise fight before we got across, we were almost across when it "tackled" us, in sight of the Silly Islands, it was quite amusing to see the fight; there was only one transport hit, and it was the one right beside the good old boat that I was in. It didn't sink, made it's way to land.
Well I'll have to go for tonight will write more in the morning, good night.
Well it is 8:30 in the morning, about 2:30 at home, ha!
This is a real house we are in like home only, its in town and is three stories high. I am in the third story, it has been a hotel in a time. I went to a German hospital this afternoon, it was a college before the war. You know those dutch took it away from the Belgians and would not let them have any schools for four years.
The Germans have only been out of this place two week. They went out one side and the Americans came in on the other. There are lots of those "Confounded Dutchmen" here, but they are in the hospital sick and wounded. I have see some Dutch nurses.
I guess the next time you hear from me I will be in Germany, we are not going to be here long. There are two things I wish I had done in the army, and one is kept a diary and dates the other brought my kodak. I could have brought it had I known the officers allowed it. I could have had lots of pictures of this country and battle fields.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I wish I was there. I think I would step over and eat dinner with you.
Well Zula I don't think I 'll get back soon. I believe I will be hear all winter. Why should I worry, I am faring fine altho' I would like to get home soon, but when I do get home I can say I have been somewhere and have seen something.
I am glad you have a school and don't take the "Flu" because that is "bad stuff." Ho, this is an answer to the letter written Oct. 20. That's just two I have received from you. Oh! Zula, just think the army that is going to Germany is the "pick" of the world and I am in that army.
Well I must quit or you will have to get a Philadelphia lawyer to read this.
I can't give my address where I am now for I will be in Germany before long, but you address my letters this way--
1st Class Pot,
Claude A. Culberson,
155 Field Hospital, 114 Sanitary Train, A. E. F. France, and I will get them. But I am in Belgium and will reach Germany soon.
Best Wishes, Your Friend,
Olaud.
NOTES: Claude Arthur Culbertson (his name was misspelled in the newspaper) was born in Cardwell, Missouri on September 11, 1895 and died on July 15, 1969. He is buried in the Dexter Cemetery in Dexter, Missouri. His military headstone identifies him as an Arkansas Pvt. in the US Army during World War 1. He was living in Prairie County, Arkansas when he registered for the draft. He departed Hoboken, NJ on August 22, 1918 onboard the Toloa. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in Field Hospital Co. 155, 114 Sanitary Train. He departed Brest, France on June 21, 1919 onboard the Finland. He arrived in Boston, Mass. On June 30, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. serving in Field Hospital Co. 155 VII Corp Sanitary Train.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD