TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT MAY 19, 1919 P. 3
Ehrenbreitstein, Germany,
April 20, 1919.
Miss Marguerite Beede:
My Kind Friend
This being Sunday evening I am doing nothing, so I will once more write you a letter. I received yours today at noon and was indeed glad to hear from you again and to know that you are all well. As for myself I am well as ever. I have excellent health. I had just returned to camp from a visit to Ehrenbreitstein and gone upstairs to lie down when one of my soldier friends came and brought me your letter. Sunday is a lonesome day over here and the news from home helped to pass away the time. I really was not expecting this letter as I just received the other one last week and answered it. So this one was a happy surprise.
We go to town every night and also every Saturday evening and Sunday, as we do not have to drill then. Everything is dull and lonesome over here now. We see the same old thing all the time and it has all gotten old to us. I only wish we could come back to America, where we could live among civilized people again. I am sure getting tired of the square-headed Heinies, but there is no telling when we will get to come as we are doing guard duty on the Rhine. When we passed in review before General Pershing he told us we were the best division of troops in Europe. We also passed in another review last Friday before Secretary Daniels of the U.S. Navy and he gave us a nice spiel and bragged on us. When they lined us up he said: "There's the old boys that did great work in the great war with our enemy;" and he told us we should be well satisfied to stay over here for we bore the name of being the best fighting troops of America. He also said that was the kind of troops needed over here, so if anything should start again the old second was able to do the work again that they had done in the past. You can go anywhere in France or Germany and hear some one talking of the success that the old second has had since they have been over here. I am glad I got into the regular army for the regulars are the leading army of the world today.
We are having some fine spring weather up here now and it is a fine time for drilling, but oh! my, such a terrible winter as we had--so awful cold, so much snow and rain. Believe me, it sure was a disagreeable time for soldiers. But this is a pretty place now. However, I don't think any place can beat the old U.S. of A. for looks in teh estimation of an American soldierI did not dread the fighting, nor do I dislike the army, but I don't like this God-forsaken country. We can only hope that we will get back to the U.S. some day. It sure makes us homesick when we hear of some outfit going to America, knowing that we can't come. I know that some of the old boys who have been discharged can tell you of some of the wonderful sights of the war. I know they are happy lads to be at home. There are very few soldiers over here who likes soldiering in this country, although they like the soldiers' life were they at home in America. I can truly say though, that I spent one Christmas and one Easter Sunday in Germany, and hope never to spend another. I was really sorry that my Julie had left you all but I suppose she is very much like myself---not very fond of work. I am afraid if I do make up my mind to live a civilian's life when I come back to the states that I will have the hardest job in the world working to keep out of work, for you know I did all I could to keep out of work when I was there. Am afraid I'll be worse this time. But then I might marry ____ _____ and let her make us a living. I can ___ ____ ___ you know and if she doesn’t work well, it will be starvation I guess. I really think she wouldn't object to working, do you?
Well, I will now change my subject. I suppose your father is getting along nicely with his crop. I imagine Willie and Walter are large enough now to make good plow-boys. I suppose little Joe and F. U. are captains by now, arn't they? I know Shirley's kids are corkers too. They write and tell me that the children are anxious for me to come home. Every letter they get they want to know if Uncle Roy has started home yet. Edna said Walter said if Uncle Roy ever did come home he was going to make him come there and stay. Are you and your mother successful with your chickens this spring? I hope you'll have some frying size when I come home. You know I am that much like a preacher--a fool about my fried chicken, so when I arrive will be down to take dinner with you.
Well, my friend, it is getting late bed time and the lights will soon go out, as it is nearly 11 o'clock--that's our bed time, but you know when I was in civil life my bed time was not before 2 a.m. I see now the difference since I have been in the army. Regular sleep is better for a person than medicine, as I have better health and feel better than I ever felt in my life. I feel as if I was only sweet sixteen. Well, I will close for tonight. With best wishes to all and hoping to see you in the near future, I remain your soldier friend,
Roy Dawson.
E Battery, 17th F.A. A.E.F., Second Division, U.S. Army.
NOTES: This letter was written by Roy Dawson
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
Ehrenbreitstein, Germany,
April 20, 1919.
Miss Marguerite Beede:
My Kind Friend
This being Sunday evening I am doing nothing, so I will once more write you a letter. I received yours today at noon and was indeed glad to hear from you again and to know that you are all well. As for myself I am well as ever. I have excellent health. I had just returned to camp from a visit to Ehrenbreitstein and gone upstairs to lie down when one of my soldier friends came and brought me your letter. Sunday is a lonesome day over here and the news from home helped to pass away the time. I really was not expecting this letter as I just received the other one last week and answered it. So this one was a happy surprise.
We go to town every night and also every Saturday evening and Sunday, as we do not have to drill then. Everything is dull and lonesome over here now. We see the same old thing all the time and it has all gotten old to us. I only wish we could come back to America, where we could live among civilized people again. I am sure getting tired of the square-headed Heinies, but there is no telling when we will get to come as we are doing guard duty on the Rhine. When we passed in review before General Pershing he told us we were the best division of troops in Europe. We also passed in another review last Friday before Secretary Daniels of the U.S. Navy and he gave us a nice spiel and bragged on us. When they lined us up he said: "There's the old boys that did great work in the great war with our enemy;" and he told us we should be well satisfied to stay over here for we bore the name of being the best fighting troops of America. He also said that was the kind of troops needed over here, so if anything should start again the old second was able to do the work again that they had done in the past. You can go anywhere in France or Germany and hear some one talking of the success that the old second has had since they have been over here. I am glad I got into the regular army for the regulars are the leading army of the world today.
We are having some fine spring weather up here now and it is a fine time for drilling, but oh! my, such a terrible winter as we had--so awful cold, so much snow and rain. Believe me, it sure was a disagreeable time for soldiers. But this is a pretty place now. However, I don't think any place can beat the old U.S. of A. for looks in teh estimation of an American soldierI did not dread the fighting, nor do I dislike the army, but I don't like this God-forsaken country. We can only hope that we will get back to the U.S. some day. It sure makes us homesick when we hear of some outfit going to America, knowing that we can't come. I know that some of the old boys who have been discharged can tell you of some of the wonderful sights of the war. I know they are happy lads to be at home. There are very few soldiers over here who likes soldiering in this country, although they like the soldiers' life were they at home in America. I can truly say though, that I spent one Christmas and one Easter Sunday in Germany, and hope never to spend another. I was really sorry that my Julie had left you all but I suppose she is very much like myself---not very fond of work. I am afraid if I do make up my mind to live a civilian's life when I come back to the states that I will have the hardest job in the world working to keep out of work, for you know I did all I could to keep out of work when I was there. Am afraid I'll be worse this time. But then I might marry ____ _____ and let her make us a living. I can ___ ____ ___ you know and if she doesn’t work well, it will be starvation I guess. I really think she wouldn't object to working, do you?
Well, I will now change my subject. I suppose your father is getting along nicely with his crop. I imagine Willie and Walter are large enough now to make good plow-boys. I suppose little Joe and F. U. are captains by now, arn't they? I know Shirley's kids are corkers too. They write and tell me that the children are anxious for me to come home. Every letter they get they want to know if Uncle Roy has started home yet. Edna said Walter said if Uncle Roy ever did come home he was going to make him come there and stay. Are you and your mother successful with your chickens this spring? I hope you'll have some frying size when I come home. You know I am that much like a preacher--a fool about my fried chicken, so when I arrive will be down to take dinner with you.
Well, my friend, it is getting late bed time and the lights will soon go out, as it is nearly 11 o'clock--that's our bed time, but you know when I was in civil life my bed time was not before 2 a.m. I see now the difference since I have been in the army. Regular sleep is better for a person than medicine, as I have better health and feel better than I ever felt in my life. I feel as if I was only sweet sixteen. Well, I will close for tonight. With best wishes to all and hoping to see you in the near future, I remain your soldier friend,
Roy Dawson.
E Battery, 17th F.A. A.E.F., Second Division, U.S. Army.
NOTES: This letter was written by Roy Dawson
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD