TRANSCRIBED FROM THE HELENA WORLD FEBRUARY 9, 1919 P. 1
American Expeditionary Forces
Young Men's Christian Association
Army of Occupation
Segendorf, Germany,
Jan. 16, 1919
Dear Mother:
Today what a joyful day for me! Guess what, I received my first letter from you since in France, or I might say Germany. The date of the letter was Dec. 12, and it contained a $10.00 money order, which I must say come in mighty handy, for I will tell you I certainly needed it.
There is one thing I missed in your letter--there was nothing said about my brother and sister, and very little regarding your health and the rest of the family, tho I don't think you are trying to hide anything from me, yet I would wish you would say more on these points.
I wrote yesterday to Paris--to have my mail forwarded to me and I hope there is more for me, to come.
You must have received a letter from me while I was at LeMans judging from what you had to say about coming home. At that there I had high hopes of getting home soon but now I don't think it possible until after peace is signed. However there is hope that we will be relieved.
I said I would give you a few impressions of Germany from my point of view. Well, you know this country has not been touched by the war, except indirectly. Everything here is just as it was before the war. The people live the same way. There is a lack of meat, flour and lard, also soap. The bread is very poor, and scarcely fit to eat, judging by the taste. Beer is plentiful, but of a poor quality. There is, however, a plentiful supply of manufactured articles.
The country is thoroughly modern in every way--just like at home, electric lights and so forth in every home. Everything neat, clean and orderly. When the boys first came here they were very much surprised not being used to all the comforts of modern Germany. they at first expected to find the country full of mud puddles, manure piles, filth and all the things that go in a country where there are so many armies concentrated. Being quartered in German houses instead of French barns and attics, where there was every convenience to be had and the 'faked' camouflaged treatment that the German people are showing them, together with their outward show of hospitality, all this combined kind of took the fellows off their feet. At least some of the less cautious ahd observant but as anyone with a sound mind knows that all this is for a purpose, the main one being to try and split the U.S. from the Allies and obtain better peace terms and commercial treaties when peace is signed. Maybe it will work but I think not for things are not left to the feelings and impressions of a "doughboy," but to facts and facts are what goes.
What would you think of anyone who would let you occupy his home, share his comforts, after your father had killed his father and in spite of it all he is willing to treat you as a real friend. Not for me! I've see too much of what Germany has done and her record is one black spot. You could not beat a dog for 4 years unmercifully and bloodily and in the end he happen to get the upperhand then expect him not to bite a big hole in you. No. So neither can Germany expect to ward off the hard terms that are going to be imposed on here when peace is signed.
That is all I have to say, only I am in perfect health, and I do hope this will find all at home the same. With all my love to all my brothers and sisters, and you.
Your loving son,
WILL A. ETOCH,
51st. Co. U. S. Marine, Army of Occupation, American E F., Germany, O.K. W.G. Farrel, 1st. Lieut. U.S.M.C.
NOTES: Etoch was writing to his mother Mrs. Joseph Etoch. He was on December 28, 1899 in Arkansas and died in May 1961. His parents were from Syria.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD
American Expeditionary Forces
Young Men's Christian Association
Army of Occupation
Segendorf, Germany,
Jan. 16, 1919
Dear Mother:
Today what a joyful day for me! Guess what, I received my first letter from you since in France, or I might say Germany. The date of the letter was Dec. 12, and it contained a $10.00 money order, which I must say come in mighty handy, for I will tell you I certainly needed it.
There is one thing I missed in your letter--there was nothing said about my brother and sister, and very little regarding your health and the rest of the family, tho I don't think you are trying to hide anything from me, yet I would wish you would say more on these points.
I wrote yesterday to Paris--to have my mail forwarded to me and I hope there is more for me, to come.
You must have received a letter from me while I was at LeMans judging from what you had to say about coming home. At that there I had high hopes of getting home soon but now I don't think it possible until after peace is signed. However there is hope that we will be relieved.
I said I would give you a few impressions of Germany from my point of view. Well, you know this country has not been touched by the war, except indirectly. Everything here is just as it was before the war. The people live the same way. There is a lack of meat, flour and lard, also soap. The bread is very poor, and scarcely fit to eat, judging by the taste. Beer is plentiful, but of a poor quality. There is, however, a plentiful supply of manufactured articles.
The country is thoroughly modern in every way--just like at home, electric lights and so forth in every home. Everything neat, clean and orderly. When the boys first came here they were very much surprised not being used to all the comforts of modern Germany. they at first expected to find the country full of mud puddles, manure piles, filth and all the things that go in a country where there are so many armies concentrated. Being quartered in German houses instead of French barns and attics, where there was every convenience to be had and the 'faked' camouflaged treatment that the German people are showing them, together with their outward show of hospitality, all this combined kind of took the fellows off their feet. At least some of the less cautious ahd observant but as anyone with a sound mind knows that all this is for a purpose, the main one being to try and split the U.S. from the Allies and obtain better peace terms and commercial treaties when peace is signed. Maybe it will work but I think not for things are not left to the feelings and impressions of a "doughboy," but to facts and facts are what goes.
What would you think of anyone who would let you occupy his home, share his comforts, after your father had killed his father and in spite of it all he is willing to treat you as a real friend. Not for me! I've see too much of what Germany has done and her record is one black spot. You could not beat a dog for 4 years unmercifully and bloodily and in the end he happen to get the upperhand then expect him not to bite a big hole in you. No. So neither can Germany expect to ward off the hard terms that are going to be imposed on here when peace is signed.
That is all I have to say, only I am in perfect health, and I do hope this will find all at home the same. With all my love to all my brothers and sisters, and you.
Your loving son,
WILL A. ETOCH,
51st. Co. U. S. Marine, Army of Occupation, American E F., Germany, O.K. W.G. Farrel, 1st. Lieut. U.S.M.C.
NOTES: Etoch was writing to his mother Mrs. Joseph Etoch. He was on December 28, 1899 in Arkansas and died in May 1961. His parents were from Syria.
TRANSCRIBED BY LAEL HARROD