TRANSCRIBED FROM THE PINE BLUFF DAILY GRAPHIC JANUARY 19, 1919 P. 2
Camp Montoir,
St. Nazarine, France,
Dec. 6th, 1918
Dear Ma and Pa:
I received your letter of November 8th and 19th yesterday and today, and also the box with the sweaters and the helmet, and the sox. I was sure glad to hear from you, and to receive the articles.
I'll bet you people raised some cain when the armistice was signed. These Frenchies did. All of the bells rang, and flags were flying, and most of them were plum full of wine.
I’ll try and tell you what I’ve been doing since I’ve veen over. We left Fort Sevier on the 25th of September, and reached Camp Merritt on the 27th. We reecived our overseas equipment and started out from there about 4 o’clock on the morning of October 3rd. We hiked about five miles up the hills and then down the palisades of the Hudson to a launding where we got on a ferry boat that took us to the pier. It was some hike too with heavy packs. It was dark all along the road, and all you could hear was the tramp, tramp of some thousands of men, some cursing, some trying to sing. I’ll always remember that hike.
I want over on the Sibony, a new ship. There were about 3,500 aboard. We didn’t see any subs on the way over. Our ship held target practice on the way over, and those gobs are on the job.
We landed at Brest, but hiked through there. I was in the barracks in which Napoleon had his men quartered once. We were doing construction work on a big hospital when the armistice was signed. We have hiked around considerable since, but have not yet had orders to come home. We are doing guard duty now.
Wishing you a merry Christmas,
W. E. Ellis
A.E.F.
NOTES: In the introduction to the letter his name was listed as W. P. Ellis.
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH
Camp Montoir,
St. Nazarine, France,
Dec. 6th, 1918
Dear Ma and Pa:
I received your letter of November 8th and 19th yesterday and today, and also the box with the sweaters and the helmet, and the sox. I was sure glad to hear from you, and to receive the articles.
I'll bet you people raised some cain when the armistice was signed. These Frenchies did. All of the bells rang, and flags were flying, and most of them were plum full of wine.
I’ll try and tell you what I’ve been doing since I’ve veen over. We left Fort Sevier on the 25th of September, and reached Camp Merritt on the 27th. We reecived our overseas equipment and started out from there about 4 o’clock on the morning of October 3rd. We hiked about five miles up the hills and then down the palisades of the Hudson to a launding where we got on a ferry boat that took us to the pier. It was some hike too with heavy packs. It was dark all along the road, and all you could hear was the tramp, tramp of some thousands of men, some cursing, some trying to sing. I’ll always remember that hike.
I want over on the Sibony, a new ship. There were about 3,500 aboard. We didn’t see any subs on the way over. Our ship held target practice on the way over, and those gobs are on the job.
We landed at Brest, but hiked through there. I was in the barracks in which Napoleon had his men quartered once. We were doing construction work on a big hospital when the armistice was signed. We have hiked around considerable since, but have not yet had orders to come home. We are doing guard duty now.
Wishing you a merry Christmas,
W. E. Ellis
A.E.F.
NOTES: In the introduction to the letter his name was listed as W. P. Ellis.
TRANSCRIBED BY CHLOE SMITH