TRANSCRIBED FROM THE NEWPORT DAILY INDEPENDENT MAY 26, 1919 P. 3
Namedy, Germany, April 8, 1919
Mr. William Edwards, Grubbs, Arkansas
Dear Brother:
Will answer your letter which I received yesterday. Was certainly glad to hear from home again. I am still on the Rhine and guess I will be here for some time yet. Wish they would send us home as soon as possible.
The weather is getting warmer and it rains here most every day. You know how bad it is on a soldier to be on guard when it is raining, and that is about all we are doing now. I am on guard about two nights in a week. It looks like I never will get to come home, but I am resting easy and hoping I will get home this year.
I had a letter from Hervia Porter the other day and he writes like he is a little homesick. Wouldn’t have thought it, would you?
I have seen several large towns in France and was in Paris two days and nights, but didn’t get to see very much for I was in a hospital. However, I saw the effect of the 73 mile range-gun that the Germans had when they shelled Paris. As soon as the Yanks located it they put it out of commission.
I am going to try for a pass to visit Paris again, but don’t know whether I will get it or not.
The first battle I was in was close to Paris when the Germans were making their final drive, and I think about every other Dutchman had a machine gun when we were ordered over the top. The Yanks were too thick for them. Believe me, a person has some funny feelings when the shells and machine gun bullets get to flying around him so thick he can not tell whether it is day or night. I got used to going over the top, but never did get to the point where I felt safe.
We were on the road 30 days when we marched to the Rhine. About the third day out we pitched our tents in No-Man’s-Land for a rest and all the pleasure we had was just thinking that the war was over, for there wasn’t any pleasure camped out there where there wasn’t an inhabitant to be seen, besides the roads were muddy and it still rained. Some of the boys gave out and some of us wore our shoe soles out. I am sending you a picture of the Rhino river and a copy of “The Watch on the Rhine,” a paper that the third Division published. In it you will find a full account of our march to the Rhine.
George Rie was down to see me the other day and we had some pictures made. Will send you one when we get them. George is stationed about 16 miles up the river from me.
Well, I close for this time. Answer soon and I will do the same.
From your bud,
Private Luther Edwards,
Co. A. 7th Infantry, A.P.O., 740, A.E.F.
NOTES: Luther Franklin Edwards was born on September 13, 1891 in Grubbs, Arkansas and died on November 17, 1967. He is buried in the Ballew’s Chapel Cemetery in Grubbs. His military headstone identifies him as a Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He enlisted on July 7, 1918 and was discharged in September 1919. He departed New York, NY on June 12, 1918 onboard the Nevasa. He was serving as a Private in the 154th Infantry. He was part of Co. 7 Camp Beauregard June Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY ALEXA KIMBROUTH
Namedy, Germany, April 8, 1919
Mr. William Edwards, Grubbs, Arkansas
Dear Brother:
Will answer your letter which I received yesterday. Was certainly glad to hear from home again. I am still on the Rhine and guess I will be here for some time yet. Wish they would send us home as soon as possible.
The weather is getting warmer and it rains here most every day. You know how bad it is on a soldier to be on guard when it is raining, and that is about all we are doing now. I am on guard about two nights in a week. It looks like I never will get to come home, but I am resting easy and hoping I will get home this year.
I had a letter from Hervia Porter the other day and he writes like he is a little homesick. Wouldn’t have thought it, would you?
I have seen several large towns in France and was in Paris two days and nights, but didn’t get to see very much for I was in a hospital. However, I saw the effect of the 73 mile range-gun that the Germans had when they shelled Paris. As soon as the Yanks located it they put it out of commission.
I am going to try for a pass to visit Paris again, but don’t know whether I will get it or not.
The first battle I was in was close to Paris when the Germans were making their final drive, and I think about every other Dutchman had a machine gun when we were ordered over the top. The Yanks were too thick for them. Believe me, a person has some funny feelings when the shells and machine gun bullets get to flying around him so thick he can not tell whether it is day or night. I got used to going over the top, but never did get to the point where I felt safe.
We were on the road 30 days when we marched to the Rhine. About the third day out we pitched our tents in No-Man’s-Land for a rest and all the pleasure we had was just thinking that the war was over, for there wasn’t any pleasure camped out there where there wasn’t an inhabitant to be seen, besides the roads were muddy and it still rained. Some of the boys gave out and some of us wore our shoe soles out. I am sending you a picture of the Rhino river and a copy of “The Watch on the Rhine,” a paper that the third Division published. In it you will find a full account of our march to the Rhine.
George Rie was down to see me the other day and we had some pictures made. Will send you one when we get them. George is stationed about 16 miles up the river from me.
Well, I close for this time. Answer soon and I will do the same.
From your bud,
Private Luther Edwards,
Co. A. 7th Infantry, A.P.O., 740, A.E.F.
NOTES: Luther Franklin Edwards was born on September 13, 1891 in Grubbs, Arkansas and died on November 17, 1967. He is buried in the Ballew’s Chapel Cemetery in Grubbs. His military headstone identifies him as a Private serving in the US Army during World War I. He enlisted on July 7, 1918 and was discharged in September 1919. He departed New York, NY on June 12, 1918 onboard the Nevasa. He was serving as a Private in the 154th Infantry. He was part of Co. 7 Camp Beauregard June Automatic Replacement Draft Infantry.
TRANSCRIBED BY ALEXA KIMBROUTH