TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DARDANELLE POST-DISPATCH SEPTEMBER 12, 1918 P. 1
Somewhere in France,
Aug. 9, 1918.
Dear Mama:
Haven’t written in some time, but I just haven’t had the time. Have been in a big drive.
We’ve got the Huns on the run and, believe me, it is some job to keep in range of them for our Infantry sure has them going. Have seen lots of dead Germans the last week, and lots of towns that have been ruined by artillery fire. Don’t think the war will last much longer. I saw them bring in some German prisoners today. The boches look as though they had not been having any too much to eat, and their clothes are bad. Met Coy Gateley and several of the boys from Beauregard recently, but didn’t get to see Charmel (Lemoyne.) Papa asked in his last letter what I was doing. Tell him that I am on a gun crew and like it fine. The gun we use is a very fine weapon, the best made. We can fire from 17 to 20 shots per minute. Did you have many peaches this year? Tell Lady I haven’t forgotten her and will write just as soon as I have time. Please excuse writing, but I can’t do better in the present surroundings and noise. Much close. Will write as often as possible. Don’t worry about me for I am all o. k. With lots of love,
Your loving son,
M. H. Flater,
Battery B, 147 F. A., A. E. F.
NOTES: Mark Hann Flater was born on November 9,1897 and died on January 16, 1988. He is buried in the Okmulgee Cemetery in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He entered the service on April 5, 1917 and was discharged on April 11,1919. He departed for Europe on April 23,1918 from Hoboken, N. J. onboard the Mercury. He was listed as a Pvt. in the FA from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. He returned to the US departing St. Nazaire, France on March 14,1919 onboard the Manchuria and arrived in Hoboken on March 24, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. in 147 FA. He was writing to his mother, Mrs. A. A. Flater.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY
Somewhere in France,
Aug. 9, 1918.
Dear Mama:
Haven’t written in some time, but I just haven’t had the time. Have been in a big drive.
We’ve got the Huns on the run and, believe me, it is some job to keep in range of them for our Infantry sure has them going. Have seen lots of dead Germans the last week, and lots of towns that have been ruined by artillery fire. Don’t think the war will last much longer. I saw them bring in some German prisoners today. The boches look as though they had not been having any too much to eat, and their clothes are bad. Met Coy Gateley and several of the boys from Beauregard recently, but didn’t get to see Charmel (Lemoyne.) Papa asked in his last letter what I was doing. Tell him that I am on a gun crew and like it fine. The gun we use is a very fine weapon, the best made. We can fire from 17 to 20 shots per minute. Did you have many peaches this year? Tell Lady I haven’t forgotten her and will write just as soon as I have time. Please excuse writing, but I can’t do better in the present surroundings and noise. Much close. Will write as often as possible. Don’t worry about me for I am all o. k. With lots of love,
Your loving son,
M. H. Flater,
Battery B, 147 F. A., A. E. F.
NOTES: Mark Hann Flater was born on November 9,1897 and died on January 16, 1988. He is buried in the Okmulgee Cemetery in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He entered the service on April 5, 1917 and was discharged on April 11,1919. He departed for Europe on April 23,1918 from Hoboken, N. J. onboard the Mercury. He was listed as a Pvt. in the FA from Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. He returned to the US departing St. Nazaire, France on March 14,1919 onboard the Manchuria and arrived in Hoboken on March 24, 1919. He was listed as a Pvt. in 147 FA. He was writing to his mother, Mrs. A. A. Flater.
TRANSCRIBED BY LARAE SHURLEY